I started my day with my morning devotional reading. And as is in these days, my day unfolded from there. Time has become an odd experience as it seems much slower now in this isolation. I am learning in this time to be gentle with myself. I start the day with a huge list of things to do, and frankly, I’m beginning to see that not all will be checked off. I turn on music and find stimulation from sounds of music and remembrances of poets. “Every moment is a fresh beginning.” T.S. Elliott So this night I am trying to take stock of what my day held. As I grieve for so much in the world; I balance with the joy and fresh beginnings right in front of me. Here are vignettes from my day:
Friends delivered fresh carrots that I added to my head of cabbage I received from my farm box yesterday; and I began dreaming up what I could cook that would be satisfying.
Same friends left me a surprise of early birthday treasures that I found when I went to retrieve the carrots. What joy to see flowers and a Birthday Girl balloon and a gift; amidst my backyard with new blooms from the Iris and Geraniums. My heart danced with the sight!
I reconnected with an old friend who I find has had severe health issues and hospitalization; and from that has a void of time and place. She is home now, however, the virus took flight during her isolation of illness and it is difficult for her to reconcile this new reality.
I received a video to review that has been long in the making. It shares the journey of sexual abuse and the healing process. It is part of my story and part of my family’s story. I watched it a couple times. After Good Friday and moving toward Easter morning; it gave me hope. That by sharing our story of abuse and healing, perhaps others will find the possibilities.
I received cards from a couple dear friends in the snail mail that made my day. My one outing a day these days is to get the mail. There were only a couple envelopes but the majority this day were personal mail. I savored the sight and the opening and the messages of love!
I got an Easter Basket of sorts from my church. I’m still putting my head around the fact I have a church family again. A text came that a fellow congregant was going to drop off a surprise and much to my delight, I found gorgeous dyed hard boiled eggs, M&Ms, Hershey’s chocolate kisses, doodling Easter sheets and colored pencils. Thank you College Avenue Presbyterian Church!
My sweet winemaker friend delivered his beautiful Portuguese wine! And there was an extra bottle. Perhaps for our happy hour Zoom meeting tomorrow night where I can hear how it is going for this beloved friend and small business owner.
I despise cabbage; but ended up creating two tasty creations from the big head of cabbage. Cabbage Vegetable Bean Lentil soup and Lebanese Cabbage slaw. Feeling pretty proud and accomplished about these. Really shows a difference of how I find value these days… it’s a good thing.
My daughter sent a photo of her makeshift bandana mask to venture out for groceries, and my son called me. We set up our Easter Zoom Fam Chat time for tomorrow. I can hardly wait.
My dear friend read my offering last night and sent message she would send me a mask. In the meantime, I saw a posting from a former Iowa Drum Corps friend whose wife is making masks. I’m getting some of those and also delighted in receiving her video that makes so much sense. I’ve had my sewing machine set up for days… I’m paralyzed on how to make these now necessary items. With a lot of help from various friends I will get masked!!!
I found a movie that I love on the television, and allowed myself to watch. “A Dog’s Journey”. Just … well… it’s a good watch and feel good movie.
I was invited to a Zoom gathering from an amazing Pastor/Human Being who wanted to draw together people at this time. There were three of us and two are parish pastors… East Coast, West Coast, Midwest represented! I have such admiration of so many beloved faith leaders navigating these new waters; and especially with this week in the Christian faith. I was blessed to take pause with these two.
I had a FaceTime conversation with a friend who has hair that grows like weeds. and laughed as we discussed his need to buy a hair trimmer and take that hair down a couple inches.
A friend sent me a reminder of the Easter show with John Legend that will be on tomorrow night. I look forward to watching and knowing we are sharing that experience from afar.
My neighbor sent me the latest photo of her brand new great granddaughter; and lamented that she has yet to meet this anticipated baby in person.
Friends welcomed their new baby into the world today! A baby and grand baby for my intergenerational friends. Seeing the photo of the three generations: mother and newborn baby, and Lola on FaceTime… well … just..
So I end my day with the understanding I did not get my to-do listed tended. But I found many moments of joy despite the situation and pain in the world. That does not diminish the pain. I am grateful for this day. The photo attached has a few samplings from my vignettes. I offer this for the prayer this night:
If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty of lives and whole towns destroyed or about to be. We are not wise, and not very often kind. And much can never be redeemed. Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this is its way of fighting back, that sometimes something happens better than all the riches or power in the world. It could be anything, but very likely you notice it in the instant when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case. Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb. — Mary Oliver
May it be so…
Originally Published to Facebook on April 12th, 2020 at https://www.facebook.com/creativecarolcelebrant/posts/152981332858733
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