Sacred Connections: Connected Still
We see each other in on-line worship services or in Zoom gatherings. The Church of the Redeemer staff meets regularly in Microsoft Teams. We have chance encounters at the grocery, the post office, a parking lot – faces and voices just recognizable behind protective face masks. We exchange emails, messages, postings on social media, telephone calls to catch up, or offer help, or share our stories, tell about what is happening in our lives each day. We are apart and yet connected.
There’s something that feels very precious in these moments of connection. It’s not that we haven’t always appreciated each other, but in these moments, it feels special, a gift to see that familiar face, hear that known voice, catch up for even a few rare moments.
These have simply been times like no other for most of us. Some of us have found ourselves in the midst of home schooling. Some have experienced this time as if on a very, very long retreat or a period of isolation. Some have found the technical challenges of connection to be quite daunting.
For most of us, this time has been a change of pace, of structure, of roles, of ways of being. We’re having to learn new rhythms, develop new routines, gain comfort with greater proximity or distance with loved ones in our lives.
And we have been walking together this Holy Week, taking this sacred journey together while physically apart. We have heard traditional prayers, listened to Holy Scripture, been invited into reflections, and experienced beautiful music together. We cannot deny the myriad emotions triggered by these extremely difficult, disorienting, discouraging circumstances. And yet we have also learned new ways of walking together as we follow Jesus’ path.
Today is Good Friday, a time of such solemnity and heartfelt prayer. We kneel in our homes during the Solemn Collects, physically apart, yet together spiritually. This is a sacred time of connection. May we continue this Holy Week journey together, walking in Christ’s love.
