An unexpected shift
At first so shocking,
So unsettling,
So off-center.
Fear began without understanding.
A kidney donation surgery canceled.
Fury and outrage, “Why?”
And then, clarity…”Oh, Covid-19.”
One family flees the city.
Another is out of the country.
One father still commuting
Reality sinks in.
Governors take charge while
Others refuse and stay the party line.
Social distancing in stores,
But not on Spring break beaches.
Mail is wiped down
And not read for days.
Family brings food to our picnic
Table, which becomes a wipe down station.
Masks, finally, masks and
Parking lots closed. Warning tickets
On windshields and relinquishing
To this now, “new normal.”
As weeks drone by
Strange shifts begin.
A rise in peace and an extravagance
Of time, with abiding in joy.
There is time to “be.”
Time to notice, and to see.
Time to feel each breath rise and fall.
Realizing each breath is a gift.
Quiet, except the ferry through Rich Passage.
No gardeners, nor lawn service,
No dental appointments, no acupuncture.
No errands. Quiet. Quiet. Quiet.
A new way of being begins.
Working out before dawn.
Hearing an eerie hooting of an owl.
Drinking in living on Earth.
Sun appearing over the Cascades…
Rushing across the Sound to my porch.
Bees buzz in cherry trees while robins find worms.
Time to watch a hummingbird’s flight.
Fear: The unknown. The death count rising.
School closures. Long awaited trips cancelled.
Political rants. Saying “no” to network news.
Uncertainty mounts. “When will this end?”
The weight on families who
Juggle work and homeschooling.
Prayers said for those on the front lines.
For some, each day holds un-quieted fear.
When will this stop? What will be next?
We lie down in a cruciform posture,
Our palms open to King Jesus.
Help us. Heal us. Please show us the way.
Becky Allender lives on Bainbridge Island with her loving, wild husband of 42 years. A mother and grandmother, she is quite fond of sunshine, yoga, Hawaiian quilting and creating 17th Century reproduction samplers. A community of praying women, loving Jesus, and the art of gratitude fill her life with goodness. She wonders what she got herself into with Red Tent Living!
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Becky, I appreciate you writing about your feelings during this time. I’ve enjoyed reading all of the pieces written lately about this time. It’s good to hear others’ perspectives about this time we are all living through. The last words struck me:
“When will this stop? What will be next?
We lie down in a cruciform posture,
Our palms open to King Jesus.
Help us. Heal us. Please show us the way.”
Probably because that is where I find myself right now as well. The word corona means crown, but I must remind myself (daily) that the one I serve wears the biggest Crown of all.
Blessings to you as you continue to navigate your “new normal.”
Barbara, I loved your poem too! Blessings to you too as you traverse so many lanes!!!
Dear Becky, God is showing me some patterns of life continue in this new normal. For example, relationship challenges & self discipline challenges, but I’m being gratefully reminded of a truth I leaned on as a new believer Proverbs 3:5-6. … to trust Him and not lean on my own limited understanding and He’ll make my path straight. Now I have more time to focus on this without so many places to run to. I long to learn how to work through my on going challenges during my new normal time, its my prayer! Thank you for sharing. So sorry you’re missing your special weekly times with your grand kids. So close yet so far.
Beautifully expressed, the tension and resolve are palpable. Extravagance of time, abiding in joy. Time, a precious commodity we dare not squander.
Hugs to you, Becky.
Ruth
I love you Ruth!!!! You know fully the priceless gift of breath….
Laura, I love the scripture you referenced. It is so perfect for now because we really cannot lean on our own understanding! We truly did run around to so many places and never gave it much thought! Wow. Has that changed! Yes…those children and grandchildren are so close and yet so far away. Love and hugs to you Laura!
And you write poetry? This drew me in and held me, echoing my own unfolding. Thank you for holding the pose, for imaging this for us. ~Joanna
You are right Joanna, a whole unfolding in so many ways!
“When will this stop? What will be next?
We lie down in a cruciform posture,
Our palms open to King Jesus.
Help us. Heal us. Please show us the way.”
YES to this… may it be so!!
Ro….yes….may it be!!!
Ro…yes….may it be so!
Oh! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Choosing life again. Today. Choosing the cruciform acceptance of this path. Thank you.
Thank you Just ME
Where else would we go?
Not a path any of us could have imagined!!!
Becky I am loving your poetry! I feel like I traveled right through this with you – All the emotions, deep fear, rest, and piqued awareness this season has brought – Still grappling with so much of it – such a bittersweet time. Thank you for this!
Megan, thank you. What we are enduring as the human race world wide….seems that poetry gets to the horror and the safety I am living through. Costly….oh my goodness, yes!!!! Jesus! Come! Maranatha. Thanks for your reply. And…I see you!!! You have so much that you are balancing. I pray for you….How is your arm?
This is beautiful, full of many questions and sentiments anyone can relate to. We are definitely in a season if unknown. I’m grateful for Christ who makes all things beautiful in their time!
I actually wrote on how to unite during times of division recently, perhaps you’d be interested.
The Lord bless you and keep you, sister!