What a heavy week—Holy without a doubt—but heavy. As a friend and I were talking, we likened last week’s return to in person worship to ‘drinking from a spiritually-charged theological fire hydrant.’ We both missed gathered worship, but the emotions evoked from seeing other people in the pews coupled with the messages and liturgy of the week were almost too much to contain. To put it plainly, it was a lot.
I have a sneaking suspicion that the months to come will contain as much or more of the same. Seeing people for the first time in a year brought out emotions and tears that I didn’t know I had been holding in; I hadn’t recognized the depth of sadness that had seeped into my bones over the last twelve months. I saw it on your faces, too. What a wonderful sadness—a testament to the life and vitality of Church of the Resurrection’s community—that so many of us reacted the way in which we did. It was and will continue to be a beautiful experience, if last week is any indication, the coming weeks and months will affect our senses more than we realize.
What a wonderful prospect.
The world will never be the same, post-Covid. I am not naïve enough to believe that everything will return to the way it was; yet, I am faithful enough to realize that old ways need to be made new, and that the ‘new normal’ is a resurrection in and of itself. The tears and smiles, joy and relief are all part of this new normal—and we’ve barely scratched its surface. My advice to all of us is to remember our own needs for reentering the social sphere. Be cognizant of your own abilities to take in the changes life will inevitably produce this coming year. If you find yourself overwhelmed, go back to Zoom for a moment, for a respite; that’s why its there. Eventually, the time will come when we’re all ready to embrace the new ways and marry them to the old ones, creating a hybrid by which ministry casts a broader net. But in the meantime, take care to take care. This return shouldn’t feel like a weighty burden, it should feel like a breath of fresh air.
So, as I say at the end of every service, be at peace. Don’t look forward in fear or anxiety to the changes of the coming days, rather look to them with hope as they arise. God has brought us through the hardest days of this pandemic and will continue to carry those who need more time to encounter the world in person, again. Put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations, and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you from home, at church, or wherever you choose to be. As Jesus says, ‘Come unto me all that travail and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.’ This return is a marathon, not a sprint; there is no finish line, just the journey to be enjoyed.
Enjoy it at your pace. And in God’s peace.
Faithfully,
Fr. Sean+