A new meditation from Fr. George in the Hope for the Journey series. You can view the complete series here and join the discussion on Facebook.
A couple of weeks ago I came across this poem written just a month ago by Lynn Unger, a Unitarian Universalist minister from California. It really struck me. Then, at the diocesan clergy conference this past Thursday, this poem was shared by the first presenter in a prayerful meditation. I decided I wanted to share it with you. It was written in response to the coronavirus.
I encourage you to also listen to the choral arrangement below, composed by Martin Sedek and performed by CONCORA, Connecticut Choral Artists, under the direction of Chris Shepard. You can read more about their virtual choir project here. I’ll just let the choral arrangement speak for itself.
Pandemic
What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.
And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.
Promise this world your love–
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.
– Lynn Ungar 3/11/20
For more parish resources and updates during the global pandemic, visit St. Paul’s Connects.