Spiritual: May 27, 2020 Issue [#10191] |
This week: Fatigue and Transformation Edited by: SophyBells More Newsletters By This Editor
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Hi, I'm SophyBells ~ your editor for this edition of the Spiritual Newsletter.
The Rev. Scotty McLennan, author of the book Finding Your Religion, compares humanity's innate need for spiritual searching to climbing a mountain. In his view, we are all endeavoring to climb the same figurative mountain in our search for the divine, we just may take different ways to get there. In other words, there is one "God," but many paths. I honor whatever path or paths you have chosen to climb that mountain in your quest for the Sacred. |
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Fatigue and Transformation
Barbara Kingsolver – “The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope. Not admire it from a distance but live right in it, under its roof.” (Animal Dreams)
Anne Lamott – “Hope is the belief that no matter how dire things look or how long rescue or healing takes, modern science in tandem with people’s goodness and caring will boggle our minds, in the best way.”
Thich Nhat Hanh – “Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones.“
I first heard the phrase “quarantine fatigue” last month when it came up as the subject for a segment on NPR’s “All Things Considered” (https://www.npr.org/2020/04/27/846514564/americans-are-feeling-quarantine-fatigu...). I’d never heard it before – maybe it’s new for this moment in history. I knew what it meant right away, though – a kind of “cabin fever” many are experiencing as a result of the problems and challenges with social distancing. The virus is dangerous – lethal for some – and we can’t tell if we have it right away, so we don’t have in-person access to loved ones. Millions have lost work and are facing financial ruin. Rites of passage such as proms and graduations have been cancelled, along with the school year. Conspiracy theories abound. We’re uncertain how long the quarantine needs to last before it’s safe to go back to normal. Some aspects of our lives are probably changing forever. It’s all very stressful and it takes a psychological, emotional, and spiritual toll.
“Quarantine fatigue” sets in – a restless malaise that effects our mood and causes us to discount the importance of distancing, masking, and the other difficult-but-necessary measures we have to take to reduce the devastation of COVID-19 pandemic. So I suppose the NPR story stood out for me because I’m experiencing quarantine fatigue myself. No doubt it gets to us in different ways. Personally I don’t mind some extra down time. I’m fortunate that a lot of my work can be done from my comfortable home. Mr. Sophy, our Labradaughter Daisy and I are good company for each other. So it’s not the restricted travel or change in work habits that are wearing on me - though I do miss in-person contact with friends and family, to be sure. It’s witnessing armed protesters at Capitol buildings, or hanging an effigy of the state governor in his front yard that frustrate me. It's watching hundreds of people crammed into and partying in a pool in Lake of the Ozarks over Memorial Day weekend that wear on me. It's the cynical rebellious politics and populist groups lacking care for the most vulnerable - as Jesus called "the least of these" that break my heart.
I receive devotional emails from Rev. Cameron Trimble - she’s a pastor, pilot, and the CEO of Convergence – a not-for-profit group comprised of subsidiary companies and organizations dedicated to organizational transformation. A recent email referenced the “imaginal cells” involved in the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a butterfly. I had never heard of imaginal cells before, and was immediately fascinated by the concept.
Rev. Trimble writes, “The amazing part of the transformation from the caterpillar to the butterfly is that you have this middle space, the cocooning season, where your body literally becomes mush. You disintegrate. You lose shape. You lose everything that defined you as a caterpillar. You become goo. In meaningful ways, you die to what you were. But here is the miracle: inside that deathly mush are imaginal cells. These cells hold the vision of a future within them. When all seems lost and nothing that was known can be known as it was, the imaginal cells give us the vision for moving forward. They know that with the right conditions and a little time, a butterfly waits to be born.” She goes on to say, in the midst of this pandemic “we are mush right now. We are messy, fragile, unprotected, insecure, unrecognizable, disoriented, developing, transforming, imaginal beings. We are in that liminal space between what was and what can be. Our becoming something better on the other side of this is not guaranteed. But with the right conditions, with the awakening of people to the beauty of our planet and the intimacy of our connection to everyone and everything, we have the chance to become something new. Don’t dismiss this as flowery language or overly optimistic dreaming. If ever there was a moment for you to become who God has dreamed you to be, it’s now. Don’t miss the chance. Everything is being made new, especially you.”
Using imaginal cells as a metaphor for the coronavirus pandemic, perhaps we can think of ourselves as entering into the chrysalis stage of transformation; during this time of dealing with COVID-19 we are going through a potentially similar experience of metamorphosis. There’s lots of heaviness and lack of light. Everything feels fluid… Uncertainty abounds. Sometimes we aren’t sure what day it is. Inside the chrysalis, what was previously the voracious caterpillar is transforming into a butterfly. Within the undifferentiated “goo” of the magical metamorphosis, individual imaginal cells of what was once a caterpillar hold the potential for the future, acting separately at first before combining to create something new and amazing — a butterfly.
There is an aching need for humanity to transform into a global community which values and implements social and environmental justice; one in which we live in harmony with nature. As Paul said in his letter to the Romans, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” What if this time of quarantine inspires us to become the imaginal cells for a transformation of our dysfunctional society? What might happen if we each connect, combine and create something new and more beautiful together?
It’s that repeated recommitment to choosing a hopeful perspective that sees me through quarantine fatigue. Even with so much intentional ugliness and callousness, I’m still persuaded – I still choose to believe that a new and better world is possible on the other side of all of this. It gives me hope to realize that it’s the small actions you and I take to practice compassion, kindness, and generosity – to be the imaginal cells of transformation – that create the beginnings of a better world. Here is beautiful presentation to illustrate the point…
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Here is a response to my last newsletter "Spiritual Newsletter (April 29, 2020)" "Spiritual Learnings During Tough Times:"
From Quick-Quill
I’m fine, I’m content. I don’t worry about tomorrow or the next day. I figure Noah didn’t worry. He was concerned after 40 days and sent out a dove to test if land was sighted. I have been home bound since 3/13. I don’t see the end yet but I go out and do what I need to. I am cautious but not fearful. What’s the worst that could happen? I get to see Jesus. But I could die in a car crash, a plane crash, or have a heart attack. My life is in His hands.
I do worry, not so much for myself, but for others. I don't want to cause harm to others by my actions, so I do what I need to do, and am very cautious while doing so.
From shepherd46
I am finding out, from this experience, that I need to get closer to God, pray more and do what I can to help my fellow man or woman. I am taking a closer look at the Book of Revelations; to understand its relevance for today and tomorrow.
Taking care of "the least of these" is a blessing - thank you for your care for others.
From Mia - craving colour
Dear Sophy,
I look forward to your monthly reflections and often find myself forwarding them to others. Always I find a gem to hold and contemplate. In this one, offering the root meaning of ‘crisis’, lovingly offers a perspective that glimmers with possibility.
Thank you for bringing to our awareness that ‘crisis’ shakes our belief in the ‘status quo’ and opens the doors to a new vision, a ‘turning point’. May we take the higher road and use this opportunity to forge a better and more peaceful world - valuing the sacredness of nature and humanity, and recognizing that all is truly interconnected on the global plain - the web of life - in which our every action has an impact . Who ever would have believed that it was possible to slow down? And here we are, called to do just that. Amazing how that one act has translated into seeing the healing power of Mother Nature. In this, I find hope.
Thank you for these beautiful words.
From THANKFUL SONALI RIP BIKERIDER
Great newsletter!
I think it's not so much about God inflicting suffering or Nature taking revenge.
It's more about humankind facing the consequences of it s own actions.
Here's something I wrote.
"What we did to the Earth"
I also wrote about how we've become so 'certain' of everything, that uncertainty makes us afraid.
"Certainty"
Thanks again for a lovely newsletter.
Well said, and thank you for sharing!
Please keep your comments and suggestions coming! Until next time! SophyBells |
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