Message from Rev. Sydney - March 18, 2020
Greetings,
I pray that you and your loved ones are all keeping safe and that you have what you need to weather this storm.
In this time of major disruptions to our lives, I am reminded of, and draw much solace from the Serenity Prayer, written by Reinhold Niebuhr; the full version of which reads:
God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Niebuhr is counselling us not to spend our time in futile resistance against things that we cannot change, or in passive resignation to things that we can. Those are words of wisdom that we should embrace at this time. Denial or panicking will not change the reality of COVID 19, but a change in how we go about our lives and our physical interactions with others can help to slow the spread and help to make it safer of everyone. We are daily being provided with reminders and guidance on how to protect ourselves and others, let us continue to exercise wisdom and do our part to help with this fight.
We are in a time of changing needs and responses, however, all the disruptions that we are facing do not mean that we have to put the enjoyment of our lives on hold. We are blessed with the gifts of imagination and creativity, let us draw on those gifts to find ways of enjoying our lives and not just settle for enduring the disruptions. What if we were to share with each other some of the creative ways in which we are utilizing this involuntary slowdown in the pace of life, to renew ourselves and enrich our relationships! That would be a great way to stay connected, maybe put a smile on someone’s face, and be part of the light in what could otherwise be a time of gloom.
And let us remember that there are still many aspects of our living and that can go quite well in spite of COVID 19, let those not be overshadowed by those aspects that we have to put on hold. When I am finished writing this, I am going out for a walk - I don’t have to be confined indoors. Then later, I will do some of the reading that I have been postponing. Also, I look forward to spending time with my wife, who has to stay home from work, my daughter, who is home from university, and my son who, when he comes home from work, stays home, which is rare.
As the proverbial saying goes: “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” In these times of uncertainty and disruptions, when so many of our plans have gone sour, let us draw on the imagination and creativity with which we are gifted, as well as the kindness and love that reside in each of us through the Spirit of God, and let us do things that would bring refreshing and cheer to ourselves and others.
I see a few lilies emerging, and my wife saw a beautiful cardinal the other day; reminders that life continues and is beautiful. In spite of all that is happening because of COVID 19, life continues, still is beautiful, and we can enjoy it.
God, grant us the courage, the imagination and the love, to change the things we can so that we may continue to enjoy your beautiful gift of life.
-Rev. Sydney Elias
