Rev. Connor Bell talked about the emotional whiplash of highs & lows in his Ash Wednesday sermon last week. For him, it was the highs of the amazing Glenn Youth production of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and then the lows of the realities of war, pandemic, and other Lenten reminders of the frailty of humanity. For me this week it has been the lows of bickering siblings and my lack of patience for them, but then right when I'm at my wits' end, the 4-year-old breaks out with the song he learned in Toddler Sunday School on the playground yesterday:
"Let the children come to me, Jesus said..." in the sweetest, high-pitched sing, song voice. Then, lowering his voice and wagging his chubby finger at me with a "no no" look he undoubtedly learned from yours truly, "Don't turn them away from me, Jesus said." I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
And I'm stuck in that place a lot lately. That emotional place between laughter and tears when your head and heart cannot process the news as our "I cannot imagines" are staring back at us in the faces of refugees and victims of war and the fears yet relief yet worry yet annoyance yet hope with changing mask guidelines have our heads spinning with decision fatigue.
I've told a few folks that my pandemic metaphor for life has changed from a roller coaster (note: I hate roller coasters in real life) to a game of Chutes and Ladders. A few step forwards, a few rungs up, and then wheeeeeeeeee, back to the beginning of any perceived progress. I suppose that's a good enough metaphor for the faith journey, too. (See what I did there? Join our Wednesday Walk & Talk Lenten Small Group reading Kate Bowler's Good Enough book! Details below). But the thing with Chutes & Ladders? What a miserable game to play solo. The journey is meant to be shared so we can cheer each other on with every space we move, every ladder we climb, and also hold each other's hands and laugh (and cry!) together for the inevitable chutes ("Shoot!") of life. This week, once again, I have looked around at Worship services, on the playground, walking around the Emory campus, in my text messages, on my social media feed, and I have seen the Glenn Church family show up for one another no matter what. I invite you to join us.
Whether you find yourself sliding out of control down a chute, exhausted as as you climb a ladder, bored or anxious as you wait your turn, or are so tired of your kids bickering you've sold the whole darn game on the Facebook Exchange, I invite you to join me in this prayer by Kate Bowler & Jessica Richie' from their A Good Enough Lent guide:
"God, somehow joy and sorrow can coexist. During these long, bleak days of Lent, surprise me with a capacity for delight. Remind me that every moment can contain a wide range of experience. Thank you for the capacity to hold both at the same time. Amen."
Grace & Peace,
Susan
Lenten Walk & Talk Small Group with Rev. Susan. Wednesdays, 12:00pm–1:00pm, beginning Ash Wednesday – March 2. Using Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie’s Good Enough: 40ish Devotionals for a Life of Imperfection, together we will walk and talk around the Emory campus, sharing reflections on the joys and struggles of our faith journeys this season. No athletic talent required! RSVP with Susan for more info on where to meet and rain plans.