My Dear Friends in Christ,
Greetings to you on this mid-May Sunday morning (or whenever you are worshiping this week). I pray that you are safe and well, wherever you are. As I write to you, the weather has turned and the temperatures are rising to a more seasonal range. Plants and flowers are blossoming (along with allergies, itches and sneezes for many of us!) and there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel as some social distancing restrictions are lifted in this part of NY State. Good news!
Some of us are excited about the possibilities of life returning to some normalcy. I’ve been reading about a new symptom of this time which is being called “quarantine fatigue” and it is real. Quarantine fatigue is what motivates us to get outside and get going again after a long period of isolation from others. It was recognized back in the days when people were quarantined for illnesses that are now treatable or rare – like scarlet fever, measles, mumps or whooping cough. Before antibiotics and vaccines, children and families were quarantined with these illnesses and when they were at last allowed to come outside, they were recognizable because they were so elated to be free and out in the world again they were obvious to others because of their unrestricted behaviors. Even then, though, there were others who came out of quarantine more cautiously and slowly because they feared reinfections and return to isolation. We are seeing both these patterns today. In fact, some of the behaviors of those who are demanding that all restrictions be lifted, usually for their personal convenience or preference, are clearly experiencing some form of quarantine fatigue with a lot of “I want what I want no matter what” mixed in. And there are those who are going to be afraid to step out of their homes, overcome with fear and anxiety at the uncertainty about infection that we now realize will be with us for an unknown length of time. In between, are those who are cautious and will abide by the recommendations and requirements as they reenter life while engaging in some kinds of contact with people.
Given these dramatic differences, clearly, this is a very delicate time. It is possibly the most uncertain time we have faced, so far, as we’ve learned about life with COVID-19. Part of the challenge will be staying true to ourselves and what we are comfortable doing. This will mean constantly assessing our feelings and our sense of what seems safe and what doesn’t. It will mean dealing with some of those with quarantine fatigue who may push boundaries and make us uncomfortable by abandoning masks and ignoring social distancing guidelines. It might mean having friends and family members who for health reasons or due to anxiety, remain socially isolated and distanced even past the “all clear”. There is great potential for irritation, anger and conflict in the days ahead because of our uncertainties, doubts, fears and behaviors. What will be required to get us through is patience, understanding, acceptance and peace making.
As I think more about this, I find myself remembering John Wesley’s Three Ordinances or, as Bishop Reuben Job paraphrased them in his book of the same title, The Three Simple Rules. These rules are Wesley’s writings on how to live a Christian life, refined to three key points:
- Do no harm.
- Do good.
- Stay in love with God (by following specific faith practices that keep your faith strong).
Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? Of course, these rules are more complicated than they seem. Doing no harm sounds easy until our needs and interests conflict with those of other people. Yet, the question at the core of whatever we choose to do will need to be: Is this necessary? Is it important? What are the possible implications for me and for others? Doing good also sounds simple but requires the same sort of analysis: Is this good for me or for someone else? How will this behavior benefit my family, my community, the church or the world? And staying in love with God! Of course, that makes sense, doesn’t it? Wesley gave very specific ways for people of faith to continue to develop a deeper relationship with God through prayer, studying the Bible and searching the scriptures, fasting, regular worship with frequent (even daily) Holy Communion, and generous giving to those in need. Of course, there is much more to that can be said about John Wesley’s guidelines for leading a Christian life and Bishop Job’s book is a useful read for us as we face the challenges of the modern world. If you’d like to learn more, I recommend purchasing Three Simple Rules or exploring the internet for more in depth exploration of these Wesleyan faith practices.
The point is that what really matters as we transition out of quarantine to a new normal, is that we, as a Christian community of faith, recognize that this time of challenge is also a time of tremendous opportunity. As we examine our choices and actions from a Christ-centered perspective, we are witnessing for the one we love and serve in what we say and what we do. Following the faith practices Wesley emphasizes, will deepen our love for God while also helping us to deepen our love for our neighbors. This is the root of the peace we will need to safely navigate this time as we move from social distancing to social connecting. Peace, real peace, must be rooted in doing no harm, doing good, and staying in love with God. It is my hope that we can be peace-filled witnesses for the Gospel as we demonstrate to one another, our community and the world, the shalom-power of Christ to bring healing to our woundedness and to restore our souls.
That said, we will wait for further word on reopening the church for worship and other ministries or events. We are receiving building use requests but have put everyone on hold until we have clear instructions and guidelines in place for what a reopening will look like. The staff is working, but our offices are still closed to the public. The Playschool will not reopen for the remainder of the school year and will be following all safe practices and guidelines for children/classrooms, as will Sunday school, youth activities and Kid’s Club, when the expected reopening occurs in the fall. We will continue to meet, remotely, at least for now. And singing, including how to have our choir, remain uncertain until we hear more about how we can sing without fear of spreading infection into the air with our breath. On the other hand, we now have some new technology and will be looking for ways to bring worship with live streaming and/or video into our homes. We may also begin studies and discussions groups using zoom and/or conference calling to help us stay better connected. We can always reach out to one another by “old fashioned” telephone or even dropping cards or notes in the mail (which many of us have been doing all along!).
And one day, eventually, we will meet again for our worship and fellowship together. In the meantime, let’s Do Good – Do No Harm – and Stay In Love With God so that peace will shine through our hearts and lives bringing shalom to a world in need of healing!
Peace,
Pastor Betsy
