There is an old Irish toast, I believe, which goes something like “may you live in interesting times”. I don’t know about you but I’ll forgo interesting for dull and boring at this point.
I’m probably showing my age, but I cannot seem to recall in my lifetime a more uncertain and scary time than now. I’m old enough to remember the turbulent 1960s through the television screen showing protests, riots, burning cities, injured and bleeding people and through the lens of my parents’ comments.
Coming to terms with family of origin stuff – and the messages I heard growing up in Germany/Dutch influenced stoicism in the midst of a world pandemic, civil unrest and a divisive political scene is not for the faint hearted! Trust me on this. I wondered what my parents thought when the world was coming apart in the 1960s. I wonder if they questioned starting a family in the midst of all that chaos.
I’ve questioned a number of choices I made earlier this year in the midst of the pandemic and societal upheaval. I thought I was handling things and then a couple weeks ago I lost my footing and my center. It was like an unexpected wave knocked my feet out from under me. It was as if I was taken under into the darkness and the more I struggled the deeper I went. I let go.
One sliver of light pierced the dark water. One possibly TWO vaccines are about to be released soon to deal with the pandemic. To borrow from Forrest Gump, “well, that’s good. One less thing to worry about.”
Hope. In that instant I caught a glimpse of what my parents generation experienced during the war years and the years that followed. They didn’t quit. They didn’t give up. They learned that fear itself is the greater enemy. “We can do it” was the rally cry.
So, forgive me if I moan and complain a bit and then gently remind me to accept what I can’t change. Change what I can. Sometimes you have to let go.
Journal or Reflection Prompts
Write what is “interesting” about these times. Where do you see hope?
What spiritual practices have supported you during this time? What have you changed because something no longer works for you? How did you feel before and after that change?
What creative practices affirm and nourish you? Are you being invited to explore and “play” with other practices?
Write a toast in thanksgiving for all you have received.
This blog is not intended to serve as individual spiritual direction. Spiritual direction and spiritual companioning is typically done face to face in a confidential setting or can be done via Zoom or other virtual platform. If you would like to explore one on one spiritual companioning, group companioning, SoulCollage©, the Labyrinth or Reiki, please contact me. If you, your faith group, your church or your book club would like to know more about spiritual companioning, please contact me to schedule an informational workshop. In the meantime, my hope is that the photos and this blog serve as a pause in your day, food for thought, or just a reminder to breathe in and breathe out all that is holy and good. The Divine Milieu is all around us. Thank you all for prayers, vibes, positive energy and support.)