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Hiatus

 


As you may or may not have noticed, this blog has been silent over the past 7 months. This wasn't because there was nothing to write about but rather because there was too much! As with everyone else, my mind was struggling to find a place to rest, to find some normalcy and continuity in the day-to-day events.


I heard from a friend this past week that she has used the last 8 months to write and published her first book! I was able to go on Amazon and  immediately download the ebook format on my iPad... before she had even seen the first print copy. Truly miraculous!!!


Our lives have been turned upside down first with the closing and then the cautious re-opening of non-essential work  and gathering places. Churches developed a  digital presence (if they didn’t already have one) that allowed them to  post sermons and other material online. Once  the churches were finally allowed to reopen, it was with a limited number of people in attendance and stringent rules for how things are to be done. None of this is surprising given what we have learned about how COVID-19 spreads.  What is happening now however is interesting.  Now that their doors are open, the churches’ online  presence is continuing.


Inequalities in our society have been highlighted. Problems, that few were aware of, and fewer still were moved to do anything about, have become common knowledge; such as food insecurity, homelessness, poverty, lack of a living wage,  health care funding, mental health resources, group congregant settings, to name but a few. Can what comes out of these strange times permanently change the way we live henceforth into a better path? Are we going to emerge from all of this with more awareness of the inequalities in the system? Will we have the necessary motivation to personally get behind the needed changes? I don’t have the answers.  Either does anyone else.


However the teaching of our faith is that we are to look out for our neighbour, for the hungry, the homeless, the prisoners, for all vulnerable and marginalized people. We are called to love these people as we do ourselves.  Will we be up to the challenge? I wonder.......


 Finally the muse to write has returned! 


Comments

  1. UnknownNovember 17, 2020 at 4:48 PM

    Judy Knighton

    Great to have you back, sharing your thought-provoking ideas with us!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Judy ImrieNovember 17, 2020 at 4:49 PM

    I hope your 'musing' will spread faster than the contagion of COVID, awakening the muse in others to stir us into action, Lynn! Good for coming back! Feeling slightly vulnerable after releasing 'Sparks of the Season' out into the world ...Vital Signs of Comfort and Joy, I hope! It hit me on Sunday..."Who do I think I am...publishing a book? What if people don't like it or notice its flaws?" Another friend of mine whose husband is a producer explained that I was used to my comfort zone of sharing poems etc. with only 'The Trusted Knowns" of my own circle, people like yourself who share my world view. Then I received Susan's sermon for November 8th concerning Jonah and it really dawned on me how little Jonah cared for the people to whom God was sending him. I felt this sudden connection...this silent whisper..."What about the others...who need to hear the comfort I have given you to share....WHAT ABOUT THE OTHERS?...Get over yourself. Get out of your comfort zone." I still feel wobbly...as one does after being swallowed by a whale...but perhaps this is the only way to change the world, one deed at a time and for each one of us it will be a different task. May all all of us come into the awareness of what that is and find the courage to actually perform it ....whoever we are....even doing it afraid, if need be.

    Thanks, dear friend, Guardian against the Snowballers of Grade 2!

    Judy Imrie






    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lynn EdwardNovember 17, 2020 at 9:04 PM

      Thanks for the comment. You are feeling somewhat like I did when I decided to put this blog on Facebook for everyone to see instead of just to the few people on a list......

      Delete
    2. Judy ImrieNovember 18, 2020 at 8:34 AM

      I think many people are feeling this way now, Lynn....wanting to do something but not knowing where to begin. My little endeavour started with the idea of writing a letter of condolence to my cousin's granddaughters and expanded into 10,000 words...which as you know, isn't hard for me!! Suddenly, without that specific intention, one finds oneself on Amazon. I really encourage everyone to just do the next best thing for 'THE OTHER'.It all counts.

      Cheers,

      Judy Imrie

      Delete

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