Summer Plans!
I was out for a walk this week and a woman stopped me and asked if I was the one who purchased Joyce and her mean husband’s house. I laughed a little , but realized she was quite serious! I wasn’t sure if we had - so I asked a few questions about neighbors and such. She determined we HAD purchased that house and said again how cranky and mean the husband was. I wasn’t sure how to respond, but said we like the house and are having fun making it our own.
She looked at me for a long time. Then she said a few things that made me feel that compassion thing - pity as it is described in Scripture. She was just coming out of depression from the pandemic. She had been afraid, angry, depressed and anxious all the time. She gained weight and was trying to lose it on her daily walks. She hadn’t seen family and lost two friends during the year. She was worried that she had changed and become as cranky as our former home-owner. I listened. I nodded. I asked her to stop by to see the house and I’d join her on a walk if I could. We said good-bye and she popped in her headset and walked away
This. This is what keeps me up at night. There are so many people in our families, churches and communities who are just like her (her name is Janet by the way). I know people need a chance to talk about their experiences over the past year or so and feel free to move into a new future. There are things we can do over the summer that will prepare us to be a church who understands.
Listen. Have you used all the platforms you have to reach your people and check in and to listen to what’s on their hearts and minds?
Are there small groups online or safely gathering that people can be a part of to tell their story, to pray with others and name their experience over the last 18 months? Is there a template for people to write it out and share it with the community?
Do we have an opportunity to acknowledge our loss during our times together - at Mass either virtual or in person?
Have you offered a memorial or a ritual that will help with healing, acceptance and growth?
Is there a way to create something positive or fun from the lock down? Could you publish favorite recipes that people made over the time at home? That world famous banana bread or sourdough? Fabulous lists of books, music and movies, Netflix series that got them through?
Have we asked where people saw God during the pandemic? That list would be a beautiful testament to faith, hope and trust!
Have we done this for ourselves yet? We must do it too. We need all this to be authentic.
I will stop here for now with the list - but will continue in the weeks to come this summer with ideas and plans, lists and charts. You have been called to ministry at this time for a reason! Your gifts and strengths are just what the world needs now!
If everyone is even a little like the woman Janet I met this week — then I know we need to take time, be patient, listen and listen some more. It’s important. It’s what Jesus did and calls us to do right now. evangelizing isn’t always a big complicated plan. It’s small and humble - found in loving the people right in front of us.
Abundant and Beautiful Blessings on your week,
Jane
Jane’s Banana Bread
Preheat oven to 350
2- 3 medium very ripe bananas peeled and mashed
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg
3/4 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
Add in a cup of chocolate chips or nuts if you like!
Mix first 6 ingredients till smooth, add in flour, mix till smooth. Pour batter into loaf pan, sprayed with spray oil. Bake for 50 minutes or until a knife or toothpick inserted comes out clean. Remove the bread from the pan, cool before cutting and serving. Bon Appetit!
