Breathe in the love of God, breathe out fear and anxiety. Breathe in trust, faith, peace, breathe out doubt, uncertainty, distraction. Focus, right now I am focusing on healthy habits, practices and activities that keep me well. . . journaling, meditation, walking, water. If I am healthy, by default, I create a healthier family, community, and even world. I am half my marriage, one-sixth my immediate family, some smaller percentage of my community, one-seven billionth of the human race. . . a spec, a cell, but still a living, breathing organism of this collective, intricate human body.
I am not worried or fearful about my personal health, though I am not without concerns for the wellbeing of others, both physically and emotionally. There is so much fear and anxiety. I get it, especially for younger adults who have not experienced anything like this, who are in a period of development which is already uncertain, establishing careers or families or a myriad of other rootings or goals. I think many are frightened by the global nature, fueled by the 24/7, minute to minute, in your face updates, thanks to every form of social media. I wonder does social media make it bigger than it is, or simply illustrate its bigness? As important and concerning as this global health issue is, I think it’s still ok to step back, take a break from the constant monitoring and give one’s nervous system a chance to reset from the onslaught of scary news.
This too shall pass, as my Irish grandmother used to say, someone who lived through famine, wars, and the loss of family members to diseases easily cured today. And perhaps, when it does, we will come through a little wiser for it. Perhaps, we learn something, something more than to wash hands more frequently or not to wait until you run out of toilet paper before buying more.
I’d hope the lessons go a little deeper. That the entire human race takes a collective deep breath and releases all our unnecessary habits and distractions. Too much this, too much that. Take a collective pause and reflect on how to take care of our one human body and our shared home, this planet. Examine our collective mind and how we think about our self, our entire human self. We all share a desire to love and be loved. Lastly, nurture our shared human spirit, the spirit that seeks union with a being greater than the whole of our one human race. Our creator, who loves us like a loving parent, who only wants the best for us. Who like a wise parent, will not take away all our flaws, problems and misgivings, but will walk with us as we work through them, seemingly invisible, silent, but when needed the most, powerfully felt.
Dear God, these are scary, uncertain times. Help us, your collective us, not your children, but your one child, who goes by the name Human.
Thoughts & Prayers 