The existence of “good news” - of hope, the stubborn reality of love even in the darkest times - doesn’t eliminate the bad news. But it can be a frame. A widening perspective. An infusion of grace.

Truly, we live in a culture and at a time when large print comes at us from all sides bearing supposedly good news that promises to “giveth” us much

The good news is that Jesus understands where we have been, where we are and where we are going even when we do not.

Christianity teaches us that no darkness or enemy is strong enough to defeat God. Out of ashes, we are the guardians continuing to rise up to bear good news of Christ’s resurrection. There is always God’s promise of return and rebuilding to a place of love, compassion, balance in nature and peace.

It’s hard to write about the word perseverance outside of the context of the pandemic. These past 6 months have been many things — overwhelming, exhausting, frightening, depressing. But perseverance is everywhere — in a determined and beautifully stubborn way.

The words “God will provide” and “God willing” are often used in the Caribbean by people of faith. On the islands we lived a simple God-fearing happy life focused on simplicity. Tourist are often surprised by the stress-free traditions we maintain, the don’t worry be happy lifestyle. To live in the Caribbean, you must have faith in everything.

Whew, I thought. And then the next thing he said truly saved me: “I’m all for momentary despair. I’m all against permanent despair…You have to get up again. You have to. You have to build the world anew every, single, day. Even though it’s hard and you don’t want to.”

But sitting in that waiting room at Mass General, I realized I was about to learn what I could never learn by pretending or listening to others. Now I was terrified.

So, when I get tired of my own challenges and the confinements that COVID has brought to my life, I seek inspiration of those before and around me, who despite all odds and often at great personal sacrifice , persist to meet basic needs and to those who persist to move the needle for justice. When I think of them, I am renewed and humbled.

The message I learned over the 34 years I was away from Maine is that no matter where we are or what our surroundings look like, God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. We will get through this drought and the Pandemic and He will be by our side every step of the way.

I have learned that if I am counting breathes and repeating a mantra that I’m just focusing on the now – the present moment – and it is therefore impossible for anxiety to be present. Even for a few moments in that stillness this is where I have discovered that God is within me. My image of God creates me.

Still as a child, I used to say, to frequently in my prayers, Create in ME, self-respect—on and on always ME, until I became aware—how selfish of me—so in my maturity stopped asking to be recreated to something I wasn’t. Since I ask of dear and gracious God to create in others for whatever reason, and in accordance to our baptismal vows so clearly stated… “I will with God’s help

Reflecting, I realize how strong a power there is in the act of choosing to create. Creating can at times be very hard work and is at times very humbling but I find that at most times it gives me life. Creating can also help me look beyond a daily struggle or frustration and see a bigger picture

So it was no surprise, in retrospect, that when I asked them the question, “who created this?”, after a moment of silence, one student replied, “God. I think God created this.” Of course. Namaste.

Several years ago, while on a spiritual retreat, I was introduced to the notion that we are not only what we eat, but what we watch, read, listen to. We are what we consume through any means and our emotional and spiritual health are influenced by such. While perhaps obvious, this was for me a “ding” moment, a moment of truth that has stuck with me ever since.

Isn't it a miracle then...an actual miracle...that the very quickest and truest way to nourish myself is to use of my time, gifts, and resources to nourish others!?

Prayer nourishes my soul and the food nourishes my body and my selfcare keeps me on an even keel. I pray that we will be well thru this period of our history. Pray, cook, meditate, repeat.