Lean into faith
As I sit at my desk writing this blog; tea in hand and Gayatri Mantra softly playing, I am reflecting on the word faith and what it means to millions who today are acknowledging Good Friday. The dogs have also been let in and out of the room a bunch of times, the TVs on and there are conversations going on outside my office door. Don’t let me fool you… I may be leaning into the practices that calm me, but the realities of physical distancing are thumping in my brain like the base thumping to the show sound track just outside the door. Physical distancing is tough, we are apart and to yet to close to together. If my house is full why can I still feel lonely? How can I feel so grateful and yet feel like I am grieving?
I am not going to even try to answer all of this. I can certainly understand that I am grieving what use to be. The ‘good old days’… back to just three weeks ago. I left my normal life with no choice; I am sitting in this ‘space-in-between’ and I wish I could just rewind it all and erase the death and hardship with it. So maybe, on Good Friday it just might be a great day to lean into faith. {insert soundtrack of dogs playing tug-a-war and zoomies all over the house]. This could be harder than I imagine.
Faith /fāth/
· complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
"this restores one's faith in politicians"
· strong belief in God or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.
2020 the Year of COVID-19 will be in the future history books. The story will unfold, based mostly on objective facts but undoubtedly it will have subjective documentation of how things were handled by politicians at all levels of government, at health care officials and the health care system. I am thinking there could even be a conspiracy theory included. For me the real story will be about the collective us. How we did or didn’t manage our journey during this crisis.
What I hope for each of you is that this weekend you will be able to lean into the things that calm you. Be strong when you are feeling too close to some, and too far from others. That you will understand that however sad and uncomfortable it is to not be able to lean into your religious faith in its traditional practices and your typical family gatherings , that you know that this sacrifice is so when you are together for the next gathering no one is missing. I am hoping that you are leaning into the true meaning of your faith while putting some of the tradition aside.
Today I want you to lean into faith:
- That the government and health officials are doing their best in a crazy complicated and stressful time. That the journey will not and can not be perfect, but they do have your health and the health of those you love as their biggest priority.
- That your employer is responding as best they can with the tools that are presented to them. That they want their business to survive, to open again, and for you to get your job back.
- For those of you that are self-employed or own a small business that you will find a way to make it through this. Just like you had the tenacity, where-with-all and grit to launch or open your small business to begin with you will lean into those same gifts to carve your next chapter. The next chapter may be a bit different, but you will navigate it. We are Canadian, we are resourceful, resilient and most importantly generous and kind.
- And That YOU can manage the physical distancing, the isolation and the grief because you know that you will one day be reunited with your loved ones. That after we leave this ‘space-in-between’ you will forge a new normal, you will love that new normal and ease will return to your life.
If you don’t agree with me that is ok – it is your choice. But I choose to lean into my faith in humanity, in myself, my family & loved ones, and my community. And I have faith in you.
“You must take life the way it comes at you and make the best of it.”
Life of PI
