Back to blogging

Times are changin’

It has been years since I have posted a new blog. I believe the time to return has now come again.
Since, I last blogged, much has happened in my Life.

About 5 years ago, with an empty nest and an intense longing to serve others, I began an intensive training at Littleton Adventist Hospital to learn the ways of Pastoral Care. For all intents and purposes, I became a Chaplain to patients almost immediately. After two years of serving there and sitting at the bedside of many hurting people; I decided to explore a program which can help sorrowing people move to grief completion or resolution. I became certified in The Grief Recovery Method and have spent the past 3 years holding grief groups and meeting one on one.

I feel very blessed and grateful for the rich, sacred opportunity to meet with burdened people as I sit beside them and they unravel their story to me. It is wondrous to me the resiliency of the  human soul; such an honor and privilege to be invited into a persons heart. There is so much courage in the vulnerability and great promise for healing when there is honest disclosure. For me, It is sacred space to be present when a heart is revealed and opened.

Now, there is great global concern for everyone’s physical health as well as fiscal health. People are trembling in fear or are oblivious to the seriousness of our world. Sometimes it seems like a dream or like we are watching a movie or reading a book. This is pretty earth shattering (poor pun).

My husband and I have counseled quite a few people recently and loneliness is a prevailing emotion which has been observed. And now there are rules and health mandates telling us we must keep a safe distance from each other. Hugging and shaking hands is now restricted also. The lonely get lonelier as human contact is decreased. I like to hug and touch and embrace my friends and family. Now I feel like a stranger on this planet as I must stifle innate response to others.

Expressing love and affection is being altered for now and I am seeking different means for connection. Today, some neighbors chalked our driveway and sidewalk with bright colored sunshine’s and messages of love and good cheer. I send texts to friends and family and organized a small women’s support group. My husband and I created a zoom group to be connected with our children and grandchildren in Virginia Beach, Atlanta, and Oregon.
Even though our community feels a bit like a ghost town to me and maintaining 6 feet distance between myself and neighbors as we pass each other on the greenbelt path seems odd; I will continue to be careful. With two immune compromised daughters living with us, we try to minimize risks of covid exposure.  This mysterious virus from Asia is chanfpging our world quickly. For the past decade I have prayed for the second Coming of the Lord. Is this the beginning? I’m now getting some cold feet as I recognize life might become quite difficult. Our prosperous abundant lifestyle might need to be streamlined. Sacrifices and inconveniences might become necessary. This universal malady is equalizing our world. The rain falls on the just and the unjust, the poor and the rich. We are all at risk to experience some suffering before this is over. It’s kind of exciting and scary at the same time.
My faith is with my a God who knows what is happening on planet earth right now. He has made marvelous promises to us if we remain faithful and true. Faith not fear.