Green ribbons encircle our oak trees in memory of the 135+ persons who died in the Guadalupe flood waters on July 4.
A phone call from an organization with whom we partner; one of their staff, a young person with whom we’d worked, died. While trying to wrap their heads and hearts around the shock and loss, they thought to include us in honoring the young life.
In the early days of a fresh new school year, children are shot, wounded, killed on their Minneapolis school campus.
Humans—children of God—are abducted each day and forced to survive horrific conditions in U.S.A. concentration camps.
Loss. Overwhelming.
How do we move into the next moment in the face of multiple tragedies? I have no ready answer, but I will share what gives me strength to breathe in the next moment; to let a smile find my face. I hope one or more options helps you keep on keeping on.
- Art—Savored: Tune in to melodies and lyrics of golden oldies and of new discoveries. Belt out songs in the shower or in the cloister of the car. Take in a performance—on television, in the theater, at a local school. Watch a visual artist create on their social media platform, drive by powerful graffiti, visit a gallery.
- Art—Created: Construct a sandwich or a sundae. Stitch a quilt. Tend a garden. Write a letter.
- Kindness: Cruelty is front and center just now. Savor small kindness—someone saying “please go first”, sharing encouragement, offering a smile or a nod. Like the staff, who thought of us in their grief. And we have the power to give kindness as well.
- Journal: Whether its doodles on a page, handwritten words in a binder, or text typed into a computer, seeking the truth of our souls is like a baptism. And the journal can bear whatever truth we entrust to it.
- Create sanctuary: Make a space and set a time for restorative reflection. Tailor it to your needs: colors that quiet, sounds or silence that centers, objects that gladden your heart.
- Pray: Prayer is action. When we are honest with ourselves and with the Divine, we gain clarity about what other actions we are called to do. We’re not called to do everything. But we can do something.
- Embrace joy: When we are surprised to find ourselves smiling and laughing in the midst of tragedy, guilt and shame often creep in. Let’s send those joy killers on their way. Joy is sunlight breaking through storm clouds. It lightens us and reminds us there is more than the present moment. Joy is strength. We need that right now.
I am deeply sad right now. You may be, too. In our sadness, we can do the next good, kind, loving thing that comes our way (for ourselves and for others). I pray and I hope that, when you most need it, a smile will find your face.
How do you care for yourself and have empathy for others? How do you keep on keeping on it times of tragedy? Share your thoughts at contact@aspaciousplace.com.
