Pastor's Letter

Meditation Forty-Three: Covid from the Elderly Point of View (5/15/2020)

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Dear Friends,

We pray you are safe and well. In the spirit of our philosophy of co-creating community and our awareness that the Spirit speaks through each of us, we invite you to share your meditations with us as well. We truly believe that in God’s economy of abundance, when we share our blessings, our thoughts, our feelings, we are all made richer. 

Today’s meditation is a poem written by Rev. Colette Bachand who writes:    My work in geriatric care (I think you know I am chaplain at a retirement community in NC?) is such a gift and, in this moment, very full. This week I wrote this poem based on inspiration from some of the elders I am in ministry with. It is very heartbreaking to witness the pandemic of loneliness and separation from their children.

  

May it nourish your contemplative-active hearts!

We hope and pray that you and your loved ones experience genuine peace of mind and heart, and remain in good health during this challenging time. 

May the Easter Season be a time of peace, of healing and hope, of the resurrection of joy in your life!

With our love and care,

Ron & Jean

Meditation Forty-Three:  COVID from the Elderly Point of View   By Colette Bachand 

They say it's the same storm

just different boats we are in …

this storm pandemic, COVID-19

They say … self-isolate, but my world was already so lonely.

They say … just read a good book or watch a movie, but my eyes don’t work anymore, I’ve not been able to read in years or see the TV right either.

They say … go for walks in nature, it will refresh your soul, but it’s hard to roll a walker over tree stumps and rocks

They say … write cards to people you love, but my arthritic fingers can’t hold a pen.

They say … this is teaching us to slow down … really? Haven’t seen fast in decades.

They say … just be grateful you can talk to grandchildren on your computer or phone, but I can’t figure out my phone and have never had a computer

They say … wear a mask,

but I can’t wear a mask and my hearing aids at the same time,

so now I can’t hear …

and now I can’t breath,

and the steam from my breath fills my glasses

and now I can’t see where I am going and am afraid to fall,

so I don’t …

go…

anywhere.

They say … just enjoy the quiet time, but in the silence the ghosts have found me again and I am afraid.

They say … just give it time … but mine is running out.

Same storm, different boats … sure.

But others can mend their boats,

or swim to shore or wait out the storm.

My boat is disappearing over the horizon

 and there is no one to see me off