On March 14, 2020, Hope was scheduled to sing with the Phil Chorus. Dan was arriving in time for the concert. The kittens were moving in, the kids were going to spend a week in South Dakota, and then move to ... somewhere.
On March 13, the concert was cancelled. And for them and for us and for you, many things have changed.
The photo is from our hospital chapel on March 18. Our first COVID patients were in MICU (Medical Intensive Care Unit). The first death with COVID was a few days away.
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One day this week, there were, for the first time, no COVID patients in that unit. I should have rejoiced. And I do.
But
Kate Bowler this week shared a prayer that starts, "A blessing for when you mourn what could have been (and it needs to feel okay to say that)" Many people are mourning what could have been from the past two years. And what actually was.
And you and I are looking for words to move forward, acknowledging the losses and embracing the gifts. I don't have them yet, of course. Like spelunkers of the heart, like psalmists, we are still exploring and experimenting with expression.
But it is a worthy pursuit, this finding words in hard times. Thanks for looking with me.
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