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.

I am grateful that, in learning how to nourish my body, I discovered how to feed my heart’s deepest desires as well.

A healthy life is one that finds a good balance between the two - nourishing and being nourished

For me, belonging to a greater community, stepping outside of my own bubble, has brought me much joy, helped me to become more empathetic and allowed me to become more vulnerable.

A Families reflection on Go and Stay during this crazy time

We are able to handle not being able to go to church, now be able to see your friends, not be able to “Pass the Peace,” not being able to hear the choir, but we will, like we have done for so many years, work our way through this, we will endure the change together, just like we have done for so many years and as long as we do it together we will come out on top.

So, to believe, I had to trust. As an adult, I have found this to be a good tenet. In fact, my favorite Bible verse talks of trust. From Proverbs 3: 5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all of your ways, acknowledge him (believe in him), and he will direct your path.

Although the definition of racism above is about more “modern” racism, we know from the Bible readings that racism and slavery has been part of the human condition for centuries. Now it is time to end it.