Good morning…
Surprisingly, one of my supervisor’s survey questions pierced a sensitive nerve, sort of like when the dentist finds a cavity and pain shoots everywhere. “When it comes to workload at Northside, how heavy is the burden or light is the load?” That was the question striking my nesting nerve. We were asked to respond on a scale of 1 (“Honestly, I’m a little bored.”) to 10 (“I have too much to complete to even think about responding.”). Interestingly, my first instinct said “9.” To me that response felt very strange. I am not a drama girl. I am not high maintenance momma. I am not “woe is me,” “life is too much,” or “look at my big burden.”
Then, God, why did I answer a top-heavy “9” on this scale? In what way do I feel I have way too much to complete? Is it really possible to complete anything before life changes form, things are altered again, as our “moment by moment” is morphed by this powerful pandemic? I sat with these questions, turning them into my private prayer. Over the next few days I noticed some intimate insights growing from my overwhelm.
- My heart is connected to many who are hurting. Like: this morning hosts another memorial service for a well loved college student in our community who died too young, too abruptly, too senselessly. And now another grieving family is forced to face the unspeakable anguish and unending questions of a private club of mourners missing their children, a compassionate club no one ever wants to join. Like: two of our good friends have already lost their jobs. Is this just the beginning of a huge avalanche of lay offs? How does one find a new job when the landscape of our economy is so unstable in these uncertain days? Like: I am sad for my son’s senior class who is learning virtually at home but is missing the most special parts of high school. Sports. Artistic performances. Senior celebrations. Probably prom, graduation, and final confirming college visits. Like: I feel disappointed for the college students who were sent home at the prime time of lifelong memory making and the college athletes who have invested blood, sweat, and tears for years, only to have their final season stopped, cut short, ended abruptly. Like: I worry about underprivileged kids kept home when school is their happy place, their food source, their reliable space of safety. How do these struggling families pay the bills, keep children safe, and juggle the cascade of current complexities? Like: I talk with women who are worried about the health of their aging loved ones. Some are the only constant caretaker kept at home, some cannot even visit the facilities trying keep the most vulnerable safe and surviving. My heart is connected to many who are hurting.
- Sequestering feels stifling. Social distancing sucks. Forgoing face-to-face contact is a huge loss. We humans need more real connection, not less in times of stress. Most of us will push through a period of feeling “worse,” unsettled, untethered, discombobulated, before we even begin to explore God’s invitation into bonding “better,” more creatively, more globally, more Spirit-led.
- I am grateful to be a conduit between the needs in our community and those who desire heartfelt ways to help. I feel privileged, day after day, to pave a prayerful path for our online community to deeper connection with God, our true self, and others in need. It is just taking me a few long minutes to get my bearings, to create a new sense of balance, to renew a fresh rhythm to our restorative relationships. With so much important soul-work to do, how can I ever fall to sleep feeling, “I have completed it all?”
All of this is so much bigger than all of us. Will we struggle against or surrender ourselves to the Source of abundant life? In these challenging times we are tangibly reminded several times a day: God is our only hope for longterm help, healing, and wholeness. From the end of the earth I call to You, when my heart is overwhelmed and weak; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I [a rock that is too high to reach without Your help] (Psalm 61:2, AMP).
…Sue…
P.S. Together we will overcome this season of overwhelm. Sometimes meaningful outreach is our best medicine. For those in the Atlanta area, please prayerfully consider how you might plug into the network of helpers in our community.
- Explore service opportunities provided through Northside Church by contacting Missions Director, Lynette Brown, lynetteb@northsideumc.org.
- Our Disaster Response team in conjunction with Pastoral Care is reaching out to our Northside members to check on them and if needed offering to deliver frozen meals. If you’d like to made calls, deliver meals or run errands as needed please contact Dr. Ann Brightwell McCord, DrAnn@NorthsideUMC.org.
- Offer hands-on help through Action Ministries. Join a morning work session for up to 10 people on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 am-12:30 pm as we pack food boxes for families in need. Sign up here.
- We now have opportunities for volunteers to help deliver food to the families served by Atlanta Public Schools. To be part of the APS Bus Food Distribution and Kitchen Support, touch on this link.
- Northside member Lisa Miller is available and qualified to do TeleMental Health sessions and Tele-Play Therapy virtually to any and all families who are needing services. Contact her at lisa@growcounseling.com.
