The present moment finds us still in the midst of an ongoing global pandemic. We face the harsh reality that the world as we once knew it has indeed already passed. We remain unsure of what or when the world to come will arrive. And so we now live within a liminal space between the “what was” and the “next….” How, then, are we to navigate our present circumstances as people of faith? By entering into the wilderness of grief.
If you are anything like me, you are feeling a general uneasiness as we enter Advent. We’re still isolated and beginning to ponder the likelihood of a virtual (or at least socially distanced) Christmas Eve. How can we remember when we are not gathered, telling the stories of young Mary and John the Baptist? What is lost when we don’t light candles and sing Silent Night, Holy Night?
Everett Worthington, a leading researcher on the science of forgiveness, has a plethora of resources available at his website.
This is a great primer on the complex immune system and why COVID-19 responses vary so much from person to person. It’s wonderfully well-written, making a confusing topic accessible.
In terms of number and severity of cases, the coronavirus pandemic is disproportionately impacting black and brown populations in the United States.