Sacred Connections: Contentment

Contentment? Really? Yes. I’ve kept seeing glimpses of contentment in my encounters with individuals and groups this week. It’s notable because I don’t know that it’s a word that has prevailed much in recent months, maybe even the last year. And it’s not as if there isn’t still a pandemic going on, or challenges signing up for vaccines, or an impeachment trial in process, or many inches of snow on the ground, or many people still suffering and lamenting various aspects of their present circumstances. It’s not that somehow our world has been transformed into a utopia, not that at all. I just keep encountering people feeling more settled, expressing more appreciation, and seeing a bit more light.

I’m not sure why contentment seems to be more visible now, but when I’ve remarked to folks about seeing it in them, it’s usually been met with a smile, a pause, and then a ready “Yes”. I looked up “contentment” in my on-line dictionary and found this simple definition that seemed to match what I observe:

Contentment: a state of happiness and satisfaction: he found contentment in living a simple life in the country.

In conversations, many have expressed a real sense of gratitude for the simplicity experienced in these times. There’s a sense of moving at one’s own pace and doing what’s essential or what truly calls, while letting go of the extraneous that might otherwise fill one’s days. And importantly, there are expressions of feeling very comfortable with that “letting go”.

In some, there’s an appreciation of feeling freer to just be one’s self at home. This is certainly more readily expressed by those who would describe themselves as more introverted, but for some this has been a time of rest, renewal, and self-care.

There have been expressions of appreciation for having the space and time to enjoy simple pleasures, watching birds, animals, and people in the neighborhood, enjoying the beauty of a fresh snow fall, listening to poetry, setting aside more time to pray.

For some, this has been a time of exploration, taking virtual classes, participating in virtual tours. For some it’s been a chance to immerse in viewing movies and series from the comfort of home. For others it’s been an opening to dive into the piles of books that have long waited to be read.

For some families with school-age children at home, even with all the challenges, I hear expressions of appreciation for small victories, for steps forward with education, and the closer connection that has grown. As situations have required a constant rebalancing, there is also the recognition of having developed or exercised new strategies and skills, and awareness of sharing a family experience that will be the source of stories for years to come.

Our longing to stay connected as a community has opened doors that we can now see have enriched the times we share. In so many of our ministries, such as Bible Study, Knittin’ Kittens, Theology Circle, Second-Half, Health and Wellness, we’ve been able to participate safely via Zoom regardless of quarantine, physical distancing, geography, and weather. We’ve gotten to see beloved unmasked faces, even those on vacation or living in distant cities, and keep up with each-other’s lives. So often, I hear the expressed desire that we continue to utilize this capacity to include others even when we return to physical meetings in our cherished space.

Contentment. Perhaps it helps that vaccines are a reality and will be widely available as soon as possible. Perhaps it helps that days are getting longer. Perhaps it helps that we’ve found ways of accommodation and adjustment and making the best of the present circumstance. But perhaps it especially helps that, almost one year in, we truly know we do not walk this path alone. Our community of love continues to walk together, inspired and grounded in Christ’s love.