Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Spiritual Journey Thursday: Separateness & Unity

Our host this month, Margaret, sent us a quote. Here's part of it: "in Holy Love, our sense of separateness dissolves, and we know ourselves as arising from the brilliant light of Divine Love that creates and sustains the universe."

 

During this time of pandemic, I have definitely experienced a sense of separateness. We've been unable to spend time with friends as we usually do, or to travel to see family and friends who live in other places. Even at work, we seem more isolated, though we do have students here. We gather less frequently, and there's something about all the masks that limits interactions. 

 

I miss people. 

 

This morning, we celebrated the milestones of our sixth graders going to seventh grade, and our eighth graders going to ninth grade. We were supposed to do this back in May, but ... well, you know. So the students are already a month into their new grade before they are dressing up, receiving their certificates, getting their pictures taken.  Then I came back to my classroom for some Zoom calls. Today's our distance learning day for everyone, and then tomorrow and Friday we're back to smaller groups in the classroom, masked and distanced. Sure, everything is more subdued than usual, but it's important to mark the moments, to gather however we can safely, and to just keep going.


That's what I'm trying to do in this season. Celebrate, mark the moments, make the best of things, laugh. Keep going towards unity and community even when separateness feels like all there is. God is still with us. God who created the universe is still sustaining us. 


5 comments:

Margaret Simon said...

I think it's important not to get discouraged during this time. We have to live in the present and remind ourselves that God isn't going anywhere. Hang in there!

Carol Varsalona said...

It is such a warm thought to think that God is sustaining us at all times. I will try to keep this thought front and center this month, Ruth.
There are such divisions in life these days what with the election coming up and the world-wide unrest. Stay well!

Carol Varsalona said...

Ruth, thank goodness that God is still sustaining us. Like you, I feel the pressure of isolation. Even though there are people walking our quiet streets and children out playing, it is all done behind a mask. I often think how much longer this stress is going to last but I feel overwhelmed constantly. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and focusing on God's sustaining grace.

Fran Haley said...

Beautiful post on trusting God, for as to the rest, it too shall pass - although the waiting and enduring is long. "Keep going towards unity and community" - there cannot be true community without unity. Even in times of physical separation, a community is joined by like-mindedness and the desire to help and support one another - thereby sustaining all. Thank you for these words, Ruth.

Gail Aldous said...

Ruth, "I miss people" captures what I think just about everyone is feeling. I'm happy for you and your students that you are teaching them and all of you were able to share Moving Up Day. Creating this important milestone even late must have made all of you feel better. I resonate with your post because our oldest daughter graduated from college virtually. Of course, she was sad, but I told her to still celebrate and make the best of it with her housemates, which they did and felt better. However, I didn't realize how much my husband and I missed until this Saturday when we visited her and rode past the beautiful field where she would have received her diploma. I realized I must listen to my own advice that I tell both of my daughters, we must be thankful and happy for what we have and not dwell on what we have missed or can't have, right now. Your words "everything is more subdued than usual, it's important to mark the moments, to gather however we can safely, and to just keep going." and "Celebrate, mark the moments, make the best of things, laugh. Keep going towards unity and community even when separateness feels like all there is. God is still with us." help me. Thank you.