Newspaper Page Text
Thursday, April 2, 2020
Around the Diocese
Southern Cross, Page 11
Peace in
uncertainty
T hese are crazy times. I
tried about ten different
ways to start this column
more eloquently, but there
you go. Life in the time of a
pandemic is surreal! How can
something like this happen in
this day and age?
By now, perhaps you have
settled into your “new normal,”
which, I’m finding, looks total
ly different for each one of us.
For me, overnight, I became
a homeschooling mother who
also now works from home. In
fact, this shift has been such
a shock to my mental system
that I needed a week-long
extension on the deadline
for this column. My brain
just couldn’t function beyond
so many changes coming so
quickly.
There are changes in how
we get our food, how we spend
our time, who we can spend
time with, and that’s just the
practical side of life. There is
certainly a cost for all of us,
even if it’s only in matters of
convenience. But for so many,
the price is in lost wages and
work hours, emotional strain,
and incredible stress.
And this is all without getting
to the actual issue of a highly
contagious and possibly deadly
virus.
It can be effortless right
now to become overwhelmed
and fearful. It’s practically
ridiculous not to fret. We are
tempted to be afraid and angry,
scared, and sad.
Surprisingly, there is a lot
to love about this time as
well. I’m one of those people
who took great satisfaction in
removing so many events from
my calendar. Maybe not every
thing, but the feeling of having
nothing to do, nowhere to go,
day after day was really just
fantastic.
I know this feeling won’t last
forever, but I hope I get tired
of the feelings before things
change.
But even with the blessings
of longer family dinners and
lots of time outside, it can be
easy to let my mind wander.
One recent night, I woke up
overthinking about all the
what ifs and possibilities and
also the sad stories surround
ing the coronavirus.
And shouldn’t we feel this
way? Aren’t we obligated to be
angry and sad and scared?
No! We are not! And some
times you need that reminder
— you don’t have to fear. In
fact, you shouldn’t!
“Let nothing disturb you,
nothing frighten you, all things
are passing, God is unchang
ing,” said Teresa of Avila.
“Patience gains all; nothing is
lacking to those who have God:
God alone is sufficient.”
God alone.
I had a conversation with
someone at the very start of
all these radical changes when
everyone was determining how
school, work and society were
going to look while we tried to
“flatten the curve.”
The person remarked that so
many aspects of life felt waver
ing, so many details and deci
sions were changing minute by
minute. At that point, we were
getting multiple emails every
hour with new changes about
protocol.
“Nothing is firm,” the man
said, “nothing is certain.”
And I understand what he
meant — but while it’s an
understandable feeling, it just
isn’t true.
God is firm. God is certain.
And if that sounds like flaky
sentimentalism, please think
again. This is what we can
learn right now, amid uncer
tainty and suffering. God is
the firm foundation. He is
unchanging, he is our fortress
and protection. He is enough.
God alone.
While we wait for normal to
return, let us find the good. Let
us rejoice in moving slow, in
more meaningful interactions.
Enjoy the FaceTime appoint
ments, walks around the block.
Enjoy time to cook and read
and even learn to do sixth-
grade math to help your son
(oh, that’s me!).
If you are lonely at this time,
be honest with a loved one and
find ways to feel connected.
But for each one of us, let us
ask God to show us his plan
for us in this sacred, historical
time. Lord, in my new schedule
that’s crazier in many ways
and much calmer in others,
please draw me closer to you
and let me hear your voice and
know your will.
Rachel Balducci is a wife and mother
of six. She and her husband Paul are
MEMBERS OF MOST HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC
Church in Augusta, GA. Her latest
book,Life Simple, is available on Amazon.
Read the
Southern Cross
and put
Faith
in your opinions