In this pandemic era many of us find ourselves walking our neighborhoods more than ever. Many are also experiencing limitations in terms of gathering together with others. So doing things with your group or your church may not be available. Keeping these pandemic realities in mind I thought I’d offer just a few personal practices and postures compiled from everyday people seeking to follow Christ into their parish during these times. Here are a few things I’ve been hearing people are engaging, or even doing myself, to help you open up to your place with even more of a sense of wonder and belonging.
Here’s My Chance! When you leave home, imagine your walk as an opportunity to love God by loving your neighbor as yourself. This is a slight pivot in perspective. “Here’s My Chance,” is more than simply getting out of your home for a few moments for a bit of physical exercise. It is an openness to listen for the Spirit’s wooing you to be present to your neighborhood. This means beginning your walk with heart to join the invitation of your place… and wear a mask! Surely one of the ways we love our neighbor involves helping reduce fear of infection. What might you see hear, or notice… and could your observation contain an invitation from God to join in God’s healing and renewing mission?
Greet people. Yes, you need to socially distance but if you’re like most people you feel some degree of isolation, and so will the people you encounter. If appropriate, make eye contact and greet them. It’s never been more important to smile with our eyes, and our words. Whenever possible let people know that they are not alone. Pausing – at a safe distance – to talk with someone can be so lifegiving… it feels especially important to encounter our houseless neighbors. We need to know we are seen and not alone.
Ask for Help. These are very challenging times on nearly every front. We all need others. If you have a need please let someone know. Sharing with someone that you need groceries, feel depressed, need help with rent, are having suicidal thoughts, or if you don’t feel safe in your own home is a vital to discovering community. Most people want to help and most don’t know what to do… asking for what you need can be an invitation to relationship. You are too important to suffer all by yourself.
Notice Changes. How are things different? What is changing? What businesses are closing? Are any starting? Or are any businesses hiring? What’s been listed for rent or sale? Who has been laid off? Who is sick? Who is in hospital? Hold those changes in your body. Pray. Wonder about who is impacted. In what ways could this be an opportunity for people to collaborate unto God’s Shalom?
Map Your Observations. A few weeks into COVID I drew a map of my neighborhood and began sticking up post-it notes on the mapped location of changes I was observing in responsive to the pandemic. Not long afterward I started adding a second color of post-it notes for BLM observations, noting sites of oppression, protest, violence, etc. Mapping observations is a listening practice engaged over time. The primary goal is not to solve or fix but to notice and map as a way of deep listening to your place as its peoples, systems, and everyday life changes.
Bless Others. These days the power of an encouraging note can be a real gift. Sidewalk chalk in front your your building, thank notes for the delivery person or mail carrier, placing painted rocks with messages of hope around your neighborhood, a handmade sign in your window, anything that let’s another know that understand, that you see their humanity, and that you care. Any kind of encouraging words reminding us that we are not alone, can help. The primary calling of all who seek to follow Jesus is to bless and love. Our goal is not to change “them” but to love God and love your neighbor as yourself.
What’s in your Hand? What do you do already? You can’t do everything, but you can do something. Often we may not know what to do or how to make a difference; sometimes it clear how we might make things worse. A good starting place can be to do something other than that. I often say, “I may not know what love looks like, but I know what hate or indifference would look like so… I won’t do that!” It’s at least a place to start.
Lament Suffering & Injustice. Clearly things are NOT the way they are supposed to be. We may not always know how to make things better, but often witnessing to God and others about the real experience of inequities, pain, suffering, and injustice is a powerful beginning place. In coming together to lament we are reminded that we are not alone in our sadness or outrage… and sometimes when we come together in grief to hold vigil, seeds of hope for a new way of being begin to take root in the hearts, minds, and bodies of the community.
Spirituality of Place. “Love God, love neighbor as yourself,” Jesus’ famous words suggest that discovering a way love in place is vital to one’s spirituality. When you step out your door invite the Spirit of God to teach you through your context… all of its people, histories, stories, animals, land, economy, brokenness, etc. The ecosystem of relationships that is your place is also God’s invitation for you to discover an even more faithful way of being.
Practice Hope. Christian hope is rooted in the resurrection story of Jesus Christ. Hope is not denial nor is it avoidant. Resurrection hope is a dare to be courageous… to look those things that could terrify us straight on without turning away. Hope confronts fear, seeking to discover a way of love in its place. Yet fear is important to listen to: fear is one of the ways we discover that change is in the air. In a culture which often markets through fear, God comes to us saying “fear not”… don’t let fear dictate how you live. Practicing hope is choosing love over fear… even in 2020.
We’re all in this together. Right now, right where you are, is your invitation to follow Christ into even greater faithful presence. And please remember that you are not alone.
Peace, dwight
