Finding Joy and laughter

In this time of COVID-19 the world is completely uncertain.  I left for 10 days in Ireland and came back to a completely different world.  I wanted to come back and share my trip with everyone.  I wanted to share pictures of where I had been and Liz’s white coat ceremony.  I wanted to talk about all the history I had seen and the food we ate.  Instead I cam back to a world changing by the minute, the spread of disease getting worse, the anxiety of my students and missing all those who I have not seen in weeks. 

It is easy to get stuck in the panic that is happening.  Thursday before I came home the panic in Dublin was palpable.  My anxiety was super high just being around the people in the streets.  I have a fear after flying back home, I could have caught the virus and be a carrier, infecting those I am around. 

Yet today in our very small office, we recorded the church staff singing a song for all our parishioners who we are missing.  The post on social media has blown up.  The comments coming are heartfelt about how much this meant to people.  People are stating in this time, they needed something like that.  There are comments just filled with hearts or some that simply say “Thank You”.  We had so much fun recording it.  We laughed and messed up and had to re-do it.  And it is bringing joy to those who are able to see it.  Right now, I want to be able to spread joy or laughter to people instead of fear and anxiety.  In this time of social distancing, we need to work hard at keeping our community even when we cannot be close to each other.   Faith is very important right now but so is laughter and joy.