"Holy Discontent"

 Midweek Musings ...
July 29, 2020

Wow, it's hard to believe we're at the end of July. Where has the past four months gone? Oh yes, Covid 19!! And it has gone quickly. Yet, there's so much that stays the same day to day. We are blessed in so many ways. But it's not easy for any of us to keep our spirits soaring given what we are experiencing. There's undoubtedly what the experts would call a feeling of grief because so much feels lost to us with restrictions in place for everyone's health and well being. We need to always be caring for ourselves physically, spiritually and emotionally. Even though some days are undoubtedly better than others, these are not easy days. So be good to yourself; take time for yourself; care for yourself ... and in all of it allow God to care for you too!!

I read a devotional today that arrived in my email because the title caught my attention ... "Holy Discontent". I think that in these days of Covid 19, we live with a holy discontent when we experience all the ways our lives and world are impacted. It is natural and completely human for us to feel a sense of discontent when our routines have been changed and our experience of what is now normal. 

I was talking with Roger Varley earlier today when I was downtown. He made a point that really resonated with me and will perhaps with you too. He recently realized that part of what makes these days even more difficult is that there is no anticipated end date. He's right ... we don't have any idea when this will be " done" and even what life will look like. And that is disconcerting for sure. 

As Roger said to me, we can deal with realities when there is an end in sight ... "I can cope for a month ... three months ... six months ... even a year ... if there is an indication that on this date we won't have to wear a mask or distance ourselves from those closest to us or go about our day to day routines with this pandemic at the very center of our lives and all we talk about."

I agree with Roger!! I think that's one of the things about these days that is wearing people down on so many different levels. It's kind of like the psalmist who regularly seemed to be asking God "how long, O Lord, how long??" And the people of Israel certainly asked God "how long" multiple times in their wilderness journey. 

I wonder, and I ask this of myself as much as of anyone else, how can our discontent become integrated in our spirituality, our faith and faithfulness, our relationships with God, our lives of prayer? Discontentment is a fact of life in our human condition. But how do we take that which compromises our contentment and reframe it into something that is holy and sacred, blessed by God for the journey we're on today and into the unknown days to come?

What can we do proactively to spiritually engage our discontentment?

I'm not saying that it's always easy to keep up our spiritual rhythms, especially in the times we find ourselves in. I know I have my moments like I'm sure you do too. However, I remind myself and all of us that if we can keep praying, trusting, rejoicing and worshiping especially when things are challenging as they are now, we will gain and retain a perspective that is indeed holy even as we may feel discontentment. All we may feel at such a time as this doesn't have to draw us away from God, our spirituality and our faith. In fact it is the perfect moment to seek God's grace, mercy, love, patience and faithfulness to continue this journey no matter how long it takes.