Stain Glass Lens of the 21st Century

Tag: coping

  • Contented Christmas

    Contented Christmas

    Photo by Taryn Elliott/Pexels

    Do you recall the children’s game Snakes & Ladders?  It is a square game board with 100 squares on it with the first one starting in the lower left corner and ending with 100th square in the upper left corner. The game is easy, just roll the dice and move your game piece that many spaces.  If you are lucky you land on a square with a ladder and it moves you upwards but if you are not so lucky you land on a square with a snake and you slither downward losing the ground you had gained.

    On our board there was a long snake on the 97th square that slide all the way down to the 13th square.  If you landed on it you were sent back to almost the beginning of the game.  It was that snake that came to my mind last week when the COVID case count went above 4000 cases daily in Ontario.  We began  December with wonderful plans and why not?  We had gone weeks with little to no new COVID cases in Grey-Bruce Counties; we had every reason to be excited.  Then we landed on the 97th square and slid all the way back down to the beginning. Now there are Government restrictions on how many can gather inside, outside and in stores. Theatres are canceling their shows and those who had travel plans are now staying put.   

     And yet, it isn’t exactly the same as last December because we’ve been down this road before and we know more than we did a year ago.  For example we know that to end the spread we have to do some simple things like wash our hands, distance ourselves and wear a 3 ply mask.  We also know this won’t last forever; this 5th wave will flatten out just like the 3rd and 4th waves did.  Like Maya  Angelou writes, “Every storm runs out of rain.”  

     I did despair for a few days; the days we returned many of the Christmas gifts, downsized the menu and began to figure out ways to ZOOM with family members.  Then I decided to try another approach to this Christmas; the approach the Apostle Paul teaches, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…”(Philippians 4:12). So, I am calling this my Contented Christmas.

    This Christmas I am disciplining myself to be contented with whatever may be.  And, once I settled into this contented mindset some amazing things began to happen.  First, we went for a lovely evening walk through the woods under a star filled sky.  We slowed to enjoy the silhouetted trees against the moonlit sky and to count the stars; the peacefulness of that walk seeped in and left me soulfully grateful.

    Then, Sunday evening the kitchen filled with this otherworldly light, I went to the window and witnessed the most incredible full moon!  It appeared like a perfectly round balloon hovering just above the tree line spreading an iridescent yellow and orange light through my backyard.  We stepped onto the deck to bask in its glow. And, today, as I post this BLOG, it is the longest night of the year; we are at the tipping point.  The winter solstice tips us towards gathering light daily. 

    So, yes, it is true, this isn’t the Christmas most of us had hoped for but despite COVID and its variants the Christ Child will arrive.  The divine mystery of God’s enduring light will continue to shine in the darkness; a darkness that cannot extinguish its glow.  

    May you find a way to enjoy this holy season making the most of Christmas 2021 for it will never come around again!  And may the love of the Creator, the joy of the Spirit and the peace of the Christ child be with you this Christmas and evermore.   

    Rev. Heather McCarrel

  • Beating The Blahs!  

    Beating The Blahs!  

    Photo by Darius Krause/Pexels

    The days have been so grey lately that my light sensory Christmas decorations have been going on by 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon.  I don’t mind though, those little multi coloured lights help to brighten an already dark and dull landscape. 

    As we now head into the darkest days of the year it is important we take with us all we need to find our way back out again.  For some these darkened days spiral into despair, depression and days of such low energy they can barely climb out of bed.

    The tipping point is almost here, hang on!  Tuesday December 21st at exactly 10:59 a.m. E.S.T. we will arrive to the tipping point; this will be the longest night of the year and then we begin to gather more light daily.

    What do we need to navigate these last couple weeks of dullness?  Lights and lots of them!  Cover your house with Christmas light, inside and out.  I would even suggest you consider keeping a few strands of the indoor lights up until well into March. And candles, there is something healing and comforting about a flickering candle, perhaps its warmth and aroma softens the darkness and transforms it into something romantic and otherworldly.

    We also need good company.  Recently I have been enjoying the company of an old friend I hadn’t thought of since I was around 10 or 11 years old.  The ever optimistic Francie Nolan and her Tree of Heaven in the book a Tree Grows in Brooklyn.   Each evening I look forward to time with Francie and her stories of life in 1940s Brooklyn.  There are many ways to connect with friends:  Skype, ZOOM, Facebook, WhatsApp, or simply pick up the phone! 

    And, we need exercise.  It is natural for us to feel less energy during these grey days.  Getting out for a walk even if it is at the local mall helps to rejuvenate us and increases endorphins, dopamine, adrenaline and endocannabinoid all which are brain chemicals that help us feel happy, confident, capable, and less anxious. 

    There is also the need for a talk with God.  Take time to pray, read scripture, meditate or listen to your favorite preacher on YouTube.  Cultivating faith aids us in seeing the bigger picture and is a sure fire way to buoy our spirits.

    Don’t forget to be silly during these darkened days!  Intentionally adding fun and joy to our days adds brightness. I heard of a couple who went to the local toy store and bought silly string.  They had a riot in their own back yard!  One youth group leader brightened up everyone’s day last Sunday by letting loose a confetti cannon in the sanctuary!  So, sing a song, do a little dance or draw a picture.  Find a way to be creative and think outside of the box.

    Finally, end each day with a fistful of gratitude.  As you lay in bed, about to dose off, count five things from that day you are grateful for; by expressing gratitude we barricade the darkness from seeping in.

    May you find a spark of heavenly light in every day,

    Rev. Heather McCarrel

  • Sanctuary

    Sanctuary

    Recently, I had the privilege of visiting a lovely church.  Its sanctuary is full of stain glass windows and this ministry has a rich history of being a beacon of God’s love for over 140 years.  As I stood, masked, at one side of the sanctuary, a church member stood at the other side sharing beautiful stories of this beloved faith community.  When it came time to leave, he looked longingly around and honestly admitted “It has been too long since I have been here. I don’t want to leave.”

    I deeply understood his sentiment.  Each Sunday, like so many others, I join worship virtually via the live stream from my church.  Thankfully we can “chrome cast” the service to our TV screen, and together my husband and I join with others to sing, pray, and reflect.   There are some advantages to gathering for virtual worship. For example, at my church the chat bar is open allowing those who join worship to share a “hello” and a bit of fellowship prior to and following each service. We can also freshen up our coffee during the service without anyone knowing!  But it isn’t the same as being in the church’s sanctuary.

    This pandemic living has me wondering where sanctuary can be found when one cannot go into the church building.  The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines sanctuary as “a place of refuge and protection.”  Some have told me their place of sanctuary is a special spot in nature- either the sandy shores of Lake Huron or Georgian Bay, while others enjoy the forest canopy and accompanying birdsong. There are a few I know who find sanctuary in their gardens, watching the antics of the chipmunks while tending to God’s beauty.

    Michael A Singer, author of The Untethered Soul and The Surrender Experiment, teaches that there are actually two worlds: one that goes on all around us, and one that goes on within us. He teaches that there is a power within us that pulls us upward. If we focus our inner self towards God, others, and eternity, we can create a refuge; we begin to create our own inner sanctuary.

    Where do you find your sanctuary?  Where is your refuge?  If you haven’t developed one, maybe this pandemic is the perfect opportunity to do so!  

    Blessings,

    Rev. Heather McCarrel

    Photo by Lua Valentia used with permission/Unsplash