“Yes, the old ways of doing things are on hold, perhaps for longer than we realize. But this moment of rupture may be an opening to new paths. New connections. New ways of being. And, if we are diligent and blessed, maybe even liberation.“ -Rabbi Michael Rothbaum
I copied this quote by Rabbi Rothbaum back eons ago in another world, at the beginning of this pandemic. I remember wondering when I read it back then if this would in fact come true, even in part. After all we humans are opposed to change even small, incremental change. Of course back then we had no concept where COVID-19 would force us to go!
The idea a year ago of going into lockdown for a month was almost impossible to comprehend. To say nothing of the fact that if vaccines arrived in a couple of years, we would be fortunate. No one had heard of social distancing. Washing your hands was something your mother had told you to do before meals. While mask wearing was reserved mainly for those people who were flouting the law. Yes, you might see ordinary people wearing masks in some if the larger cities but they were the exception rather than the rule. How our perceptions have changed!
The community of followers left after Jesus’ death must have had this same feeling of being in a new and unknown land. Their leader had gone. What would they do? Where would they live? How would they carry on?
And so they hunkered down in conclaves,together in a community of like-minded people for their own comfort and safety, as well as to carry out what Jesus had taught them was important- looking after each other, continuing to live the love he had exemplified.
Eventually though they got up the courage to gradually venture outside these communities. They spread the word of this new way of living, of loving, of justice for all, firstly to other Jews then farther afield to the gentiles. The world changed because of their actions.
After this pandemic is over, after the necessity to hunker down is no longer with us, will we have the same courage as we venture out to continue the lessons this pandemic has taught us: lessons about who the most vulnerable are in our society: lessons about what we actually need to survive, and lessons about how all of us on this planet are truly connected one to another.
It’s up to you and I to make sure we do!
Only time will tell, Lynn. My husband has a habit of saying to me quite often; "Don't slip." I have taken a few spectacular falls over the years and have had to learn to slow down and become more aware of my surroundings in my dotage. Thank God, I have my mother's tough bones. Those words, 'don't slip' have begun to mean more and more...don't slip into the old ways of doing things, of looking at life or complaining about it etc. etc. Easier said than done but a nudge to slow down and become more aware of following where Jesus is leading.
ReplyDeleteAt the cottage, there is a lamp salvaged from my childhood of Jesus walking on the water. As the bulb heats up, the waves beneath his feet appear to move. There are times, especially during COVID, we all slip below the waves but He never does, urging us on to the 'new thing' developing in front of our eyes...living moment by moment in uncharted territory...yet charted by God.
Judy Imrie