Among the things that I’m not great at: sitting still. During my first year of seminary, the D.C. area and much of the North East saw record snowfall; we had over two feet in Alexandria alone. Of course a city that far south is not accustomed to that level of snow so for a week we were confined to our homes until the city’s snow plows could clear the streets. After the second day of this, I found myself trying to shovel my alley allowing my car and our neighbors’ cars to get out. Never mind the fact that it would be another 4 days until the streets around our homes were cleared; I wanted to be ready. So, because I couldn’t sit still and wait patiently, I shoveled the 40 yards from my car to the street, bit by bit, day by day; I am not good at sitting still.
I have found myself reflecting on that snow storm as I, along with you and much of the world, find myself hunkered down for the foreseeable future due to precautions around COVID-19. There is no
snow to shovel and if there was, in my case, I would be unable to partake. As many of you know by now I have contracted
mononucleosis and therefore, have little energy to do much else except reflect on past times I’ve been confined to my home.
But I suspect that I’m not alone in my inability to wait patiently. I’m sure some of you are getting to-do lists done, perhaps even working on home improvement projects, finding this time a gift in some way. But for the rest of us? Those with kids now home for 24 hours a day, those who were looking forward to a full events calendar or participating in the fellowship and conversation around Racial Healing at St. Paul’s on Wednesday nights (shameless plug, to a now non-existent event). How do we view this time?
The uncertainty we are living with and the daily changes to daily life have many feeling anxious and worried. For me that anxiety becomes restlessness. For others it may become fear. For my spiritual well-being during this time I’m inviting myself to see this time as a gift; each of you are invited to see this time as a gift as well. While I will not accomplish a great sum of accomplishments as I rest and recover these coming weeks, I am grateful for the gift of time to rest. I am also grateful for all of you who have reached out to me and Laurie asking what we need and then providing it. I know you are doing that for each other as well and I give thanks. In anxious times
like these our sense of community is a gift, even when we are not physically together. These times remind me that I am not strong enough on my own, but that my strength comes from God. I am
grateful for each of you who remind me of this Truth and I am grateful for the time to sit still and know that God is God who is right here with us.
God’s
Peace be with you,
Adam
Resources for Managing Anxiety