Sacred Connections: Community
My birthday was this week, and whenever anyone has asked me what I did to celebrate, I have immediately responded, “I voted!” In other times, other circumstances, I can’t imagine this response, but we are in these times, these circumstances, and that’s what I wanted to do. It was great!!
I headed over to the Hamilton County Board of Elections mid-morning and there were throngs of people, yet no sense of over-crowding or congestion. Officers helped direct cars for parking, and many of us traveled a bit of a distance on foot. There was a pervasive sense of goodwill. Visually, we were as diverse as we could be, and I’m sure we represented a whole host of differing political views and priorities, of different hopes and grievances. But our unity was in our identity as citizens of this country, and as people committed to exercising our freedom, and responsibility to vote. In this time of so many significant concerns in our world, this was something each of us could do. And it felt so good, in this sea of doubt, to simply show up as a community and do what we could do.
I found myself thanking everyone I encountered for their help and simply being there: the officers who guided us, the individuals who directed us into the building, the person asking questions to steer us to the right station, the person checking our identities, seeking our signatures and giving us our ballots, the person showing us where to scan our ballots, right down to the person who showed us the way out. There was careful minding of physical distancing, mask requirements, hand sanitizer. I felt deep gratitude for this experience of community, for the structures in place to help keep us safe, and the welcome, respect and care. We were together as a broader community and it felt encouraging, inspiring and full of new possibilities.
It can feel more challenging these days to show up, to be community, to know how to be there for each other. If we have loved ones who are recovering from an injury or illness, or adapting to changes in their lives, and we layer the restrictions and concerns regarding the pandemic on top of that, we may find ourselves at a loss as to what we can do. But even in very bleak situations, there may be new ways for us to still show up, to enable us as a community to support each other. It may have to do with finding the most helpful care arrangements or finding ways to keep connected as care needs change. It may be facilitating new contacts for the loved one or reaching out to others in similar situations and sharing ideas and strategies. When we feel the solution rests entirely on us, the burden can feel overwhelming, but when we share it in community, new possibilities may well appear.
My sister-in-law, Jane, is a lifelong Episcopalian, and faithful to her core. Her husband, my brother, died earlier this year, and Jane suffered a major stroke this summer while she was already in rehab for injuries from a fall. Hospitalization was followed by more rehab, then a care facility. With the pandemic, there was the added challenge of isolation from loved ones each step of the way. More options kept being explored and rejected until the present one appeared – a place to be while healing that feels a bit more like home; family is able to visit, including Max, her beloved dog.
My nephew explained it had all come about through connections – with people in his church community, his soccer and football communities, people who had been wrestling with similar challenges who knew others struggling as well. He describes how he had always had his father’s mindset, if there’s a problem, you figure it out on your own, you don’t share it with others, they have problems of their own. But this time, after months of going it alone, his concern for his mother spilled out in a chance encounter with friends. Through the connection after connection that followed, he’s become a believer in this gift of community offering possibilities he simply couldn’t envision on his own.
Jane is in a long recovery process, and it’s not clear what the future holds. But in talking with her two days ago, her faith remains so alive, and love sustains her still. We agreed it could only be the movement of the Holy Spirit that helped her find this current home.
When we come together as community, whether for a national election, or to help someone closer to home, we can make a profound difference in our collective and individual lives. Guided by the Holy Spirit, let us share our hopes and challenges and be open to new possibilities we might only envision together.
