Hello, all. Another week down and only…….hmm, who knows how many to go?
I hope each of you are healthy and not experiencing any major problems due to the COVID19 pandemic. The necessary change in our way of being in the world has been challenging for most of us and critically difficult for all too many. Recognizing “we are all in this together” helps me to avoid the pitfall of occasionally feeling too anxious and sorry for myself; and looking around at what I have shifts any anxiety and self pity into calming gratitude. I hope your circumstances provide you this same reflection.
Being a news junkie, I am inundated by the scenes of hospitals understaffed and without PPE, bodies wrapped and stored in trailers and statistics about the number of those tested/confirmed to have the virus and those who have died from it. I’ve said to Chancey that I’m grateful neither of us has to worry about our parents in a care facility (all are deceased) because the situation there is a often tenuous. But the virus can hit any where. The 90 year old mother of a close friend is the first person I’ve known (and first in her small county) to die of COVID19. She was mentally alert and used a walker, lived in her own home in a very small town and had round the clock caregivers. She became ill, was hospitalized and determined to have the virus. Family members tested negative so apparently one of the caregivers had the virus. Her condition worsened over a week while her family could only ask medical personnel to relay their love to her. On Easter morning, her doctor, who is a family friend, was holding her hand as she passed. The grave side “service” was held without a minister, only family members sitting in their respective cars,or attending virtually via Facetime, paying their respects. Sadly, this was one of the more fortunate outcomes as many families cannot even have access to their loved one’s body or don’t have the financial resources to provide a burial. For me, the toll of COVID19 became a face, a name, no longer just a statistic. I think of this situation being replayed many times, every day across the country, across the globe. Now when I see the statistics, I pause and imagine the sorrow and pain being felt and briefly hold those families and friends in my heart. They don’t know but it keeps it real to me.
There is also much to feel good about during this stressful time. Spring hit Atlanta with lots of rain and now the sun has given us beauty all around. I love to check Facebook each day to see what amazing flower Lorraine has posted or unbelievably flamboyant bird Franklin has posted. I enjoy sharing phone calls, texts and emails with friends. I love going outside at 7:00pm to clap for healthcare workers and hear others doing the same. I smile at the yard signs saying “thanks”, “we’re in this together”, “It will be ok”. I appreciate that the postal carrier is working and bringing mail; the sanitation workers are picking up our garbage; the store clerks are providing essential services; the fire and police departments are keeping us safe; my family and friends are social distancing and we all are helping to flatten the curve. We don’t know when we can return to some sense of normalcy (whatever that is) but, like Christmas and your birthday, it will happen. Listen to the medical science voices – not politicians – for your cue.
If you are a 1st E member, please read Robert Stewart’s email about voting for the upcoming slate of Board members. He enclosed a ballot that must be returned by this Saturday at midnight. Also, please read his instructions about next Sunday COL and the annual meeting to follow. This is your congregation and your voice matters. Note: Anyone may attend the meeting but only pledging members can vote.
On another note, I have various plants I can share if anyone is interested. Orange/yellow lantana, forsythia, nandina, lemon balm, mondo grass, 4 individual cayenne peppers, small coral bark maple seedlings, and a 2 ft tall mahonia. I can drop them at 1st E on a specified day if you will let me know you’re interested. I have multiples of most everything.
And last but not least, I’m adding some pics I hope will give you a smile.
Love and hugs from a distance.
Rev. Marsha