This is not an easy time. We miss our families and friends. We miss walking down the street and easily passing by people without worry. We miss restaurants and coffee shops. Still, now that we are a month or so into this, there might be some things that are starting to emerge that bring joy or pleasure. There might even be some good, happy-making things about this time. That doesn’t cancel the worry or the sadness. It isn’t polyannaish to acknowledge that, while we wouldn’t choose this situation, there are some good things about it.
I am a big fan of Firefly Creative Writing (find them at https://fireflycreativewriting.com) and often find myself doing their writing prompts or assignments (from various classes or their mail subscription packages) in a similar way that I approach Jewish practices. They create a container for me to connect with the feelings, ideas, stories that mean something to me. They also create a container for me to have fun with ritual and sacred time and space. I light candles. I clear the space. I settle in.
Right now they are doing special Covid-19 programming and this little activity is directly taken from one of those (it is very very Jewish to borrow and cite and then make it one’s own).
If you feel like it, clear a space and light a candle (could be Shabbat candles). Then make a list of all the small good things that you have experienced or noticed since social distancing began. What smells, sights, signs of spring? What tastes, experiences, conversations, activities? What do you hope you’ll continue doing after this time ends? What feels good?
When I did this, I wrote about how the communal act of banging on pots and pans at 7:30 pm in support of healthcare workers has moved me to tears. It is like we are a big minyan (referring to the traditional group of at least ten one needs to pray). We mourn, we celebrate, we reflect. We do it at the same time each day, like a prayer service. It marks that another day has passed, that we remind ourselves to be grateful and focus on the big picture, and that we are doing this alone, but together.
What sacred, religious-like, or cultural/communal experiences have you felt during this time? No one wants this to last long. But there are things about it that I hope do last far into the future.
Until next week,
Rabbi Denise
These spring flowers poking up from a spring snowfall are a small good thing I saw on a walk recently