Most of my friends are introverts. I am not. Most of my friends like that they can stand behind me in crowds or at parties and I’ll cover and do all the talking. They drive, I talk, greet, and meet people. They like to stay home, I like to be out. Plus, I’m close enough to the introvert line that I don’t like to stay too long. Perfect friendships. You know who you are. It’s also not a stretch for my friends to understand that I don’t do well being in one place all the time.
I live in a 400 sq ft apartment (I will keep mentioning this throughout my time at seminary.) My husband and I both work and live in this space together. Strangely enough, for two very independent, I-like-my-own-space people, our marriage during this pandemic is the best it’s ever been. We’re so relieved to find out we really like each other now that we have to stay in one place together 24/7, day after day, week after week, month after month. Nevertheless, I do not confine well within four walls or behind fences. I am an open range horse.
Nevertheless, I do not confine well within four walls or behind fences. I am an open range horse.
So, I’ve taken up pandemic walking. I walk for miles. I see things I’ve never noticed, nor would perhaps ever notice, had I not been given this opportunity. I was getting lethargic and depressed, so I structured a morning ritual of walking, watering the community garden, meditation, prayer, and spiritual reading. I created a haven on the back patio. I study by the pool when I can. Life opened up in new ways. I found meaning in this stay-at-home life. I still feel the walls closing in on me every day, but I have choices! I can make this fun.
Let me share with you some of the fun and insightful discoveries I’ve made on my walks.
Meet the Queen of Barbados. She grows everywhere in Austin. I feel like I’ve developed a close relationship with her and greet her every morning on my pandemic walk. What have I learned from her? She’s vibrant, strong, can take the heat. She grows in lush, well watered gardens and along abandoned sidewalks. She makes her surroundings beautiful. She’s passionate and her bright colors make her impossible to ignore.
Side note: I downloaded an app on my phone (PictureThis) to help me identify these trees and plants on my walk.
This little guy made me think of St. Francis. When no one else would listen to Francis’ effusive love of God’s creation, he preached and played for the birds. God’s creation listens even when God’s people don’t. There is joy to be found in what is foolishness to others.
This truck sits across from the local post office. It made me think of how we respond so differently to older people than we do to older things. This truck has character. But, so do our elders. They have wisdom but we treat them as irrelevant. I’ve always hoped for a time when new, fresh ideas sat at the feet of wisdom and listened. I really do believe that the divine work we are asked to do is fertilized and prepped for growth in this way. If you are young, think about this. Your ideas are great, they will be even greater nurtured in wisdom. Older ones, let the young ones share and discuss and relish their energy.
I read this in my prayer time this morning:
“Our Lord, we thank Thee that Thou hast kept us.”
“There is no age in Eternal Life. Have no pity for yourself, nothing but joy and gratitude. These last few weeks have been the submerging before the consciousness of rescue. Go forward now and conquer. Go forward unafraid.”
God Calling
And lastly, for this blog post, there are windows everywhere. Icons are windows of prayer. Mirrors are windows into yourself. The sky is a window to the great universe. Look into another’s eyes and see them. In this time of a clarion call for racial justice, remember to look the other in the eye and see the one whom God would call Beloved. Know their name. They are a window beyond fear.
It doesn’t look like we’ll be gathering together physically together in community any time soon, so expect more pandemic walking blogs. May you know God’s peace during all of this. Introverts, check on your extroverts. They are not okay. Extroverts, check on your introverted friends, preferably by text, and make sure they are ok. We still need each other.
Magdalena's Musings 