Open to the Spirit
Today’s word: Readiness
than we can fathom. We hope that we can pass these tests with flying colors, but the reality is that we sometimes encounter challenges that leave us just as unsure of ourselves as when we began.
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)We all encounter tests in our In the Jewish tradition, the idea of lives, whether they be challenging Teshuva, deep change, really is only personal experiences, broken realized not when one test is passed relationships or difficult people, or the or one problem is solved, but when tough world news that fills our minds you encounter the same challenge so much these days. So many of these again and are able to make your way experiences challenge us because through it with less difficulty. The they touch on our vulnerabilities, first time was tough but looking the they meet us where we are sensitive or problem in the eyes a second time unsure of ourselves. We try to respond is not as bad. We can see everything to these challenges with clarity, and that we are experiencing now and accept that often we make mistakes. understand it as one more life lesson Daily life always has these built-in ups which can hopefully make us stronger. and downs, and so many of us felt we We know we can’t live a life free of were ready to take on anything that challenge. Yet when we encounter a came our way. difficult moment, we can hold on to
Then came the pandemic. As we the lessons we learn, so the next time make our way through these difficult we will be ready. This is the true test. times and all of the separation and
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brokenness that goes along with it, ) These days it seems that every we might not be sure how we will week there are new struggles even be able to move forward. No to face. We have to be ready for amount of preparation could have anything. At the beginning of the made us ready for this unbelievable pandemic people went on mammoth experience, and these days it seems shopping sprees. Toilet paper very like we are going through even more quickly became difficult to find. tests of our strength and willpower Readiness meant buying stuff. For some people that was already a habit. I have memories of bridge night at a friend’s house. We played in the basement and he showed me his storeroom once. His partner would stock up on whatever was on sale at Costco. There was at least 3 years worth of tomato juice, and even more cans of tuna fish. Again, readiness meant possessions.
I live a simpler life. Readiness for me makes me think of my faith journey, and emotional preparation. In my lifetime there have been many extremely difficult circumstances that I have lived through. Eventually I realized that I was not alone, that there was a quiet divine presence. I also reached out to family and friends, and they were there for me in an instant.
Now I have a person for everything. I have a computer guy, a camera guy, a mechanics guy, an electrician guy (my brother), a salad lady, a face mask maker, even a book store person. I belong to a writing group, a breakfast fellowship, and a faith discussion group. My church community may be small, but they also help me cope with life’s struggles. The past nine months have been drastic, but together we have survived.
Readiness, for me, in not about accumulating things, but gathering people to share with and help us when needed.
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) Readiness. I have put on my winter tires, helped put up the car shelter and got out my winter boots, hats and gloves. I’m just about ready for winter. Having been caught more than once with my summer tires on when the first snowstorm hit, I have a healthy appreciation for readiness. However, something inside resists the self-satisfaction that accrues from being ready. Life is never as predictable as we like to think.
There have been many critics of government and public health officials in the last eight months, claiming we should have been better prepared. Yet is this really a reasonable critique? Do we expect our world leaders to shelter us from every possible threat? Accidents happen, tragedies occur and new viruses develop. When they do we need to use all our energy to look forward, to join forces and mend what is broken.
Life is inherently fraught with danger. It is fragile and yet precious. Developing the ability to be flexible when a crisis occurs brings out the very best of our God-given creativity. Grappling with the unexpected teaches us that we are so much stronger when we all row in the same direction. Collaboration is the only way forward. It tests our human biases; it expands our understanding of one another, and it brings us to the next level of consciousness. In a nutshell coming face to face with the unexpected challenges us to become better human beings.
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) Are you ready?” the painfully energetic voice of our fitness trainer would relentlessly intone. Much of the time, we were not. We were far from ready for whatever stretching, lifting, jumping or otherwise self-torturing routine was about to commence. Yet we were there, lined up in our jogging suits. And we’d signed on for this Boxing for Parkinson’s program, so our ragtag assembly would usually groan and shrug, straighten our spines, take a deep breath and otherwise rally ourselves to some semblance of readiness. And we’d survive the grueling obstacle course before us to cheer each other on for the next round.
In this Covid course we’re all enrolled in, we need to be ready for whatever is coming next. We’ve none of us ever run this race before, and we are being stretched in ways not of our choosing. Living into the unknown with a sense of openness to how our patience, equanimity or compassion will be tested requires a new level of soul fitness.
Meditation is my spiritual heavylifting routine. In my morning mindfulness practice I settle into the silence and hunker down to center in calm awareness. Letting go of expectations or judgments, taking time to be fully present to the now, focusing on the simple act of breathing ~ this is the kind of fitness training I need to maintain my flexibility. As the day wears on, and the news of the outside world rushes in, I know I can return to this peaceful place I carry within me.
Someone recently posted this bit of anonymous wisdom: We are not stuck at home; we are safe at home. It requires flexibility of spirit to reframe things. We none of us volunteered for this program, yet we can choose to develop the inner strength to not only endure but live through this time with grace and gratitude. Knowing somehow, we’ll all be stronger by willfully putting ourselves through the paces. So, I ask you, “Are you ready?” Ready to do what we must in order to get ourselves ready to make it through the next round? One word, four voices, and as always we turn it over to you. What does readiness mean to you? How do you get ready for what life will send next?
Rev. Mead Baldwin pastors the Waterville & North Hatley pastoral charge; Rabbi Boris Dolin leads the Dorshei-emet community in Montreal; Rev. Lee Ann Hogle ministers to the Ayer’s Cliff, Magog & Georgeville United Churches; Rev. Carole Martignacco, Unitarian Universalist is retired from ministry with Uuestrie and now resides in St. Andrews by-the-sea NB, but keeps one foot in the Townships by continuing with this column.