What strange lands do we venture in?

What strange lands do we venture in?

what strange times are we now commence?

Alice’s’ tipsy turvy world to our chagrin

Jesus turning all upside down

Hustle bustle suspended indefinitely

Where is that solid ground?

Where is true credibility?

Wise words and fluffy sentiment

Lest we forget fretfulness and foreboding

All trying to be relevant

Scientists, doctors, prophets all attempt decoding

Sabbath and rest

Life and death

Broken hearts displaced

Best of plans laid bare

Heights and depths chase

Momentary times without care

 Blessed are the meek

Our abilities to control now cease

What treasure do we seek?

The unexplained, A holy peace

Socially distancing and isolation in proximity

Socially distancing and isolation in proximity

Socially distancing and isolation in proximity

These words bubbled up as I was walking alone at a park with literally 100 or so people social distancing too. We all are trying to understand these times that have shaken us out of our rhythms and places of “normalcy”. Many of us feel it as a time to enter into something different but unsure of the bigger picture. For others it is a time where we gather deeper into our families and rediscover close connections. For some, fear keeps pushing up into the surface, as “what if and what then?” questions rise. And probably for most, it is all of the above and more.  And as the initial waves of the newness of being apart wears off and stretches longer than we hope, feelings of isolation and loneliness may also start to stir. Those who claim a faith in a power higher may be finding some comfort overall but also “battling “the unknown and the lack of community. Community is a word we throw around with a Christian ease in the church and in the world at large we talk of building strong community. Covid-19 has surely stopped those thoughts and practices in their tracks...But does it have to?  

Can we re-imagine what community is? Hasn't humanity been practicing a form of isolation in proximity for a long time.  Pseudo sense of being together but not knowing ourselves or each other. I feel in my own struggles and processing, a call, an invitation, to enter into a deeper connection with my relationship with Jesus as well as with family. Here is the rub, being in close quarters with loved ones can feel tricky, in that sometimes, and I would dare say most often, with those closest to us the “real “us peaks out. Our impatience, selfishness, self-reliance etc oozes out. This social distancing has de-cluttered our schedules but also rips at the fabric of our camouflage. It does not feel good.

Can we begin to move closer in, first to ourselves and then learn how better to connect with others.  What does it look like to offer yourself a sense of acceptance and kindness? To no longer isolate your emotions and stories but to more fully connect to our whole selves, warts and all. The hiding of ourselves began in a garden, I believe we each have a certain time we have been allocated and believe that this strange season we find our world in is truly an opportunity. An opportunity to stop isolating the real us and to then begin to move in a new way, that though physically distant, we learn to move more intimately with those around us. Let’s rename social distancing to intimate proximity. Can we learn to be truly more real and connected with those closest to us and when we are no longer bound by physically distancing ourselves learn how to be socially intimate in proximity?

this crazy COVED-19 Flu

This crazy COVED-19 Flu

isolating

creating

potential chaos

Yet the birds still chirp

the sun shines

spring flowers push up

unapprised

Life is slowing down

A time when worldly

enterprises stand still

trusted platforms bend

below

Shaking up of status quo

May a new hunger

begin to stir

social distancing

give way to

community rebirth

The atmosphere infused

uncertainty and fear

rebuked

the future unclear

Grab hold of the

unwavering rock

taking stock

truth will never depart

the promises of old

store them in

your heart

the living word

in heavenly realms

every prayer heard

aligning back

all relations

God and man

all of humanity

to creation

the antidote to insanity

 shalom released

placing our feet

exchanging self for others

The sacrificial lamb

the cover

to all our needs

Holy spirit

help us discover

futile thoughts and deeds

turning into celestial pleas

Up to the one who saves

breaking forth in

unadulterated praise

This generation to break bondage's

freeing slaves