Melancholy - it's a thing
I remember my dad and aunties talking about being melancholy - mostly when the dark days of winter settled in, the sun was out very little and everything was colorless outside. I imagined my Sicilian elders missing the sunshine and warmth of the island off the boot of Italy - and longing to be warm again, by the sea and seeing lush green fields for miles. It's more than that I know. It's a pervasive sadness that creeps into us that needs attention. Many of us are feeling it these days - a sadness, a grieving and looking for a way to be joyful again. For some this may be depression - when it lasts long, is intense and you can't climb out of it - this needs professional attention. For others it's grief and feeling the loss of our former lives. We were hit with something we had no way to prepare for and have learned along the way what it means to be hanging on for dear life - every minute of every day. If not for ourselves, for our elders, neighbors and families.
It has changed us. We are different now and have had to approach our lives and ministries in new ways these past months. We have created hybrid ministries that reach into homes, lives, as well as smaller gatherings and liturgies that have layers and layers of safeguards. We are changed in how we can relate to people: no longer can children, youth and families come into the church building where we normally gather, break bread together, hug each other and share a sign of peace. Ahh - now we consider all the germs that are involved in the messiness of community! We miss the mess. We miss not standing to attention at every sneeze and cough. We are grieving the loss of touch, acts of kindness, singing, and innocence. But this is not forever.
This unusual time will be a meme or a memory put to rest one of these days, but the here and now is important. Melancholy passes and spirits are lifted which gives a renewed sense of purpose and energy. This time, right now, is a gift to us to listen, assess, create, dream and pray. We know that there are many obstacles in your way at the moment. Ministry is not going to be easy, familiar or perhaps not even functioning well - depending on space, resources, staff, internet bandwidth, accessibility to technology or devices.
So, what shall we do?
Why not offer praise and thanksgiving even in our grief? Open our hands to be ready to receive all God wants to give? Look for new ways to share the kerygma - our personal stories of encounter - and to love people where they are right now. We can't wait for to the pandemic to end before we do the good work God has put in our hands. Now is when our people need to walk with them, love them and lift them up and remind them that church is not the building but US!
Blessings,
Jane
