“If we’re always looking in mirrors—made of glass or social media—and looking outward, we should not be surprised when truly new things don’t want to come through us to be born.” ~ Caitlin Breed
Becoming is a process in which the inner life and the outer life intertwine to form something new. The inner life has been different during pandemic. Perhaps there’s been too much time to look inward. Perhaps we are so overwhelmed there has been no time at all to look within and tend to our spirit. The outer life contains both too much stimulation – anxiety, fear, anger – and not enough stimulation due to social distancing.
We remember the “Before” times dimly, like an enticing mirage. We exist in the “During” time. And can’t know yet what the “After” times will be like. The quote by Caitlin Breedlove reminds me of this past year of looking at myself during Zoom meetings. A constant mirror. I’ve kept in touch with friends through social media much more often in the past year. But that is like looking into their mirrors, a poor substitute for the real thing.
Trying to keep up with the news, looking outward in an attempt to know what to expect is similarly over-stimulating and ultimately leaves me feeling empty, rudderless, or falsely certain of what I know.
How do we cultivate the inner life when exhausted? How do we let the seeds of new things germinate and grow this spring when we’ve been so obsessed with the mirror and the outer life?
I, for one, can’t wait to start gardening again. That is where I am most in touch with, and a full participant in, becoming. Blessings on the seeds, my friends, blessings on the planting. Let the truly new things come through us to be born. God knows, the world needs it.
Rev. Dena McPhetres, Associate Minister