“I’m scared – afraid – terrified. J’ai peur.” These are words the world is hearing every day on the news, around the office, on social media, in our own heads.
For centuries throughout the world, there have been hurricanes, landslides, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, fires, etc. that have struck fear in the hearts of people.
Cancer, Covid and other medical diagnoses have shaken and continue to shake people to the core.
The January 6th attack on the capitol of the U.S. terrified people who thought that civil unrest would be followed by civil war – or maybe WW111.
The unimaginable earthquakes killing over thousands of people are soul-wrenching and foreboding for those living on earthquake faults.
The Chinese balloon and unknown object that were shot down over the U.S., sparked frightening images of espionage and evoked the fear that nothing is private anymore.
Russia’s ongoing assault on the people of Ukraine, a daily reminder that if Ukraine falls, other countries will not be safe and neither will democracy.
The bombing of Iran by the US and Israel … the killing of the children/staff at the Iranian school … the killing of sailors in international waters … the death of US armed forces following orders in Iran …
And then there’s DJT, JDV, EM, the minions of Project 2025 and the daily decisions made and the horrifying consequences paid by others who have done nothing wrong except … looked different … spoke with an accent … were in the wrong place at the wrong time … somehow got onto a ‘list’ … didn’t vote the way DJT wanted them to vote …
Anxiety seems unrelating and fear is rising. Feelings of helplessness, abandonment, and lack of control overwhelm. Breathing becomes shallow. Hearts race. Minds won’t stop thinking.
Images seem everpresent: images of the children; the elderly; the disabled; the farewells; the frigid weather; the explosions; the baby buggies at the train station; the line-ups for food and water; the babies born in bomb shelters; the demolished hospitals / schools / churches; the bodies; the families running to escape the fires … the images haven’t stopped. Neither has the fear.
What to do in the midst of experiencing fear that is “gut-wrenching / can’t explain / keep-me-awake” type of fear that is being felt as the horror of evil surfaces and spreads? What to do if God seems absent? Is there anything we can do to allay the fear, or at least not have such fear so present all the time?
Perhaps there is … sometimes. And sometimes is often the only thing to hang on to.
Sometimes – admitting our fear to ourself, to another … helps. Admitting our fear can help move the darkness out and bring healing.
Sometimes – naming the evil … helps. There is power in naming the evil. The man known as Jesus did that … often. Sometimes – something as simple as saying, praying, thinking, whispering the word ‘peace’ as we gently, and slowly, literally inhale a second of peace into our body, mind and spirit – helps.
Sometimes – saying, praying, thinking, whispering the word ‘fear,’ as we literally exhale the consequences of that fear from our body … – helps.
Sometimes – reminding ourselves that though we may be experiencing God as absent, others are experiencing the presence of God in different ways: the selflessness of volunteers and community/social organizations; the plants/shrubs/flowers, the spontaneous laughter of a child; the medical and scientific miracles that continue to emerge and surface; the courage of reporters and journalists who speak the truth in spite of threats of job loss; the indefatigable decisions being made by Judges who are making rulings counter to what is expected by DJT; the peaceful protests …
Sometimes – creating something in the kitchen, garden, shop, studio, on the computer, in our Journal – helps.
Sometimes – repeating Dame Julian of Norwich’s words (“All shall be well. All shall be well. And all manner of thing shall be well”) can help and using our breath to say them: … as we inhale, say / think / whisper / pray / sing “all shall be well” … as we exhale, say / think / whisper / pray / sing “all shall be well”; inhale “and all manner of thing”; exhale “shall be well” – helps
Sometimes – remembering that somewhere in the world, every minute of every day, someone is meditating, inviting peace for other; sitting cross-legged and chanting; saying the Rosary; receiving Communion; reciting the Shema; praying the Daily Office; thinking / sending / praying / whispering good thoughts for the world; holding those experiencing fear in their heart, mind and spirit; thinking a comforting thought – helps
Each of these contribute to an energy force that is more powerful than negativity.
We can admit to saying/thinking “J’ai peur … I’m afraid” when we feel frightened, for when we release the fear in simply acknowledging its presence somehow, it doesn’t have the same power over us as it did before we admitted the fear within us.
Yes, I admit … “J’ai peur … I’m afraid.” But I refuse to let fear stifle my ability to speak out/speak up … I refuse to let fear paralyze me into social isolation … I refuse to let fear stop me from continuing to be informed, knowledgeable about the truth of what is happening … and I refuse to let fear tell me that there is no future.
Welcome Wednesday. You are a gentle reminder to “make time to smell the roses.”
“Make” time not just “take” time but make time to … work at our relationships with cherished family and friends … play and create … be intentional about our health: physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual … wonder and ponder and be in awe … be aware of the negative effect social media is doing to our body, mind and spirit and disengage from it more than engage with it.
In other words, may we make time this day, this Wednesday to “smell the roses” … of activities that offer joy … of people who encourage hope … of thoughts that bring positive memories … of things that are keeping us alive and active like our breath, vision, hearing, mobility, pumping heart, and other organs and …
Welcome Wednesday. May we find ways to give thanks for this day.
I’m getting “up there” in the chronological age listing. Naww, let’s face it, I’m “up there!” Some of my friends are up here too – or are close by ,and they’re anxious. They’re anticipating all sorts of unpleasant things that are ahead, especially in matters of health, finances and overall well-being – from wrinkles to mobility/hearing/vision/dental/limb issues/loss of friends and more. I hear them say things like “I’m almost 70 or 75 or 80 or …” As if a particular age were a hurdle to “get over.”
The additional matter of the world feeling uncertain, (economically, politically, socially (feeling ‘heavy’ as some of my friends put it), it’s true. Responsibilities multiply. Losses accumulate. Personal disappointments surface. Business setbacks become reality. Family tensions, spiritual doubts can arise. Yet I’ve come to believe that aging gives something powerful: CONTEXT. As seniors, we recognize patterns; we remember other storms that passed. Context.
Aging has much to give. It can … teach self-acceptance: the urgency to prove oneself can soften into the focus on living truthfully … provide steadiness in decisions: shaped less by impulse and more by long-view judgment … expand a sense of compassion: as we understand that everyone is navigating their own unseen struggles … offer opportunities for self-reflection, humility and trust: showing growth in faith / spiritual life.
To be sure, aging doesn’t remove difficulty. Instead, it can strengthen our capacity to hold difficulty without being undone by it. In so doing, we realize that strength is patient and grows.
It’s true – there are seasons when change hits us in the face, feels unwelcome and is painful: when roles evolve, health shifts, long-held plans have to be revised. But change can also invite re-invention … opportunities to consider ‘possibilities’ as we learn to be intentional about holding on to what matters, and shedding what no longer seems to matter. And that includes downsizing material possessions.
Aging is, in a nutshell, an opportunity to continue ‘becoming.’ It’s not always easy. But it is meaningful. And surely ‘meaning’ (more than youth) is what sustains a life well-lived?
My late husband was a calligrapher and penned our favourite saying … “Age is a matter of mind. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” <Mark Twain>. Hans was a lot older than I, but that didn’t stop him (or me), from playing. It’s true, as George Bernard Shaw wrote “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” As much as I love Twain’s words, I love Eleanor Roosevelt’s words on this subject even more: “Beautiful young people are accidents of nature but beautiful old people are works of art.”
I like the thought that I’m a work of art – you’re a work of art – each of us, privileged to live into our senior years – are works of art! So I continue … facing the issues ahead, personally and politically … and believing, as CS Lewis said, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” One of my goals is to continue writing these ‘Soulistry: Artistry of the Soul’ reflections. Not having Hans by my side anymore, there is no one close by to share such reflections, so I write – “journal” in my blog.
What goal / dream are you setting? How are you a work of art? What ways are you dealing with what life hands you, with an attitude, a spirituality of playfulness? May we all remember that “Aging is not to mourn what is lost, but to celebrate what remains.”(unknown author)
It’s not a good day for many in the world. And especially not for those in Ukraine. Four years ago today, Russia invaded Ukraine.
On this, the fourth anniversary of that terrible event, tangling in colour helps distract me from the sterile black/white images in my mind of menacing trucks rolling down city streets, people hovering in bombed-out hospitals, children growing up terrified, and democracy on a fragile thread in that and far too many countries.
As we move about each day – as we drive, shop, create, attend our meetings, appointments, go to work/school/worship, may we think of the people of Ukraine and other places in the world where that same scenario is commonplace.
Let us think ‘hope’. Let us pray ‘peace’. Let us send thoughts of ‘protection’ to them. May freedom be theirs. May their reality change soon and may the people of Ukraine know that the world has not forgotten them.
Colour and Hope! I send them colour – and hope – this, and all, days. We need colour and hope in this world as reminders that rainbows still cross skies – somewhere. Reminders that children still dance and sing – somewhere. Reminders that freedom still exists – somewhere.
SLAVA UKRAINI!
********************** (An aside: this piece of ‘colour and hope’ was done on something called ‘scratch paper’. I don’t find it easy to work with, but love the surprising and unexpected colours that emerge and thought it the perfect medium for this reflection! That’s my hope and prayer for the people of Ukraine … that there will be surprising and unexpected victories for them that will remind them that there are people of every colour around the world who are praying, supporting, surrounding them with thoughts of love and protection.
For those familiar with Zentangle®, this is an attempt at a HQ fragment called ‘Obawa’.
Hello, Sunday! A new day begins. A new week begins.
And with these new beginnings, a wish … a prayer … a hope. May hatred, violence, fear, terrorism, self-seeking opportunism and seeking power for personal control or gain take flight this day from the worlds of politics religion, countries, communities, homes, media and each of us.
Hello, Sunday! A new day begins. A new week begins with a wish … a prayer … a hope.
May goodness .. love, hope, self-control, truth, kindness, patience, gentleness, thoughtfulness, joy and peace be released in little ways, in big ways and in-between-ways.
Hello Sunday!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The tiny lights nestled around the daffodils, Witch Hazel branches and stone angel statue on my mantle hopefully light the way to hope and healing for all experiencing darkness. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If only it were possible to see democracy surviving. Even “just a little bit.” But, the loss of democracy is on the rise in the United States, around the world, and even here in my beloved Canada.
The phrase “It wouldn’t happen here” has been spoken by people who voted for someone who told them what he would do. And when he began to do it, they came up with excuses. And then more things happened that they didn’t think would happen. And they made excuses.
And now?? When climate change and the threat of nuclear war are added to the rising hatred, violence, terrorism, it’s not surprising that people are asking “Is any place safe these days?”
And the answer to that question? Schools are not. Universities are not. Hospitals are not. Marathons are not. Sport events are not. Homes are not. Public events are not. Streets are not. Religious buildings are not. Government buildings are not. Shopping centres / malls are not.
Fear grows more and more as personal lives are dramatically impacted. Intolerance spreads as “someone” must be the reason for prices going up, jobs being lost, hatred increases. And the “us” and “them” language develops its own life.
When that happens, we forget that joy abounds … weddings happen … lives are celebrated … babies are born … lives are extended because of medical intervention … children laugh and play … elders share their wisdom and experience … musicians, photographers, dancers, painters, thespians, calligraphers, potters, weavers, chefs, gardeners, carpenters, fabric artists, knitters, landscape artists, writers and many others continue to awaken the creative spirit, touch the soul and inspire the mind.
When fear and negativity rise to the surface, decisions made by leaders focus our attention on the death knell of life. If only it were possible to see democracy surviving. Even “just a little bit.”
My spirit grieves for the lives that have been lost, the ongoing erosion of democracy, the ways selfishness keeps us from changing our habits to protect this planet for future generations.
What can be done? We can choose to see our world entering the death of the tomb. Or we can choose to see our world entering the birth of the womb.
I don’t want to give up. I won’t say the world is doomed. I believe in possibility. Perhaps a baby is being born this day or a child is already born who may conceive of a way to bring compassion out of this chaos, who may find a way to save this planet from climate devastation, who may find a way to motivate people to a world of kindness, compassion, love, community and hope.
May we not give away our ability to choose to face each tomorrow with hopeful expectation/anticipation … even if it is only “just a little bit.”
