February 3, 2021
This Is What I’ve Decided: A Prayer
O Lord, this is what I’ve decided,
I’ve decided that
living virtually
is virtually
not living at all;
living
on a screen,
through a screen,
by means of a screen,
living
reduced to
posts,
tweets,
images on ZOOM in your room,
but not
in your room
or you in their room,
not really;
and yes, yes, yes,
I know
I should be thankful
for all the virtual ways
to live virtually, to
work,
learn,
shop,
worship,
exercise (Peloton person pushing, huff, puff, huff)
even see the doctor,
attend funerals,
ways to bring distant people close,
keep close people from becoming distant,
yet,
the distant distant still,
the close somehow not close,
so hard to get a feel for what people feeling,
people “ZOOM ready”
(make-up on, hair combed, clothes clean,
emotions in order, smiles in place),
even voices seem distant,
different,
phone calls better
for some reason,
but nothing better
than sitting down with someone and talking
face to face
(even mask to mask),
actually see people,
SEE people,
in person,
feel them near;
and yes, yes, yes,
I know,
it’s what must be
if ever we are to get beyond what is,
but still,
life flattened by flat screens,
feelings flattened,
feel so flat
some days;
and yes, yes, yes,
I know,
it’s probably just me,
too old,
too yesterday,
too gellified;
and yet,
it’s not just me,
patients in hospitals,
families can’t visit,
Facebook, facetime, finally failing,
futile against loneliness and depression;
high schoolers
and younger too,
struggling,
virtual learning hard,
even worse,
lonely,
no one sitting next to them,
no one to turn to,
literally,
no one to talk to,
can’t or won’t turn to parents,
not the same,
some suicidal,
need a presence, a friend, someone,
who’s right there
not on a screen;
and others,
isolated, alone
(hey, not everyone has a family);
older ones
who can’t get vaccinated,
don’t know whom to call or how to get through,
don’t have a computer
(hey, not everyone does),
don’t have a prayer
in this virtual world we’re stuck with,
in this world in which it seems
there is virtually
nothing we can do about it.
O Lord, help us to realize that we are not helpless,
that we can do something,
that we can be
more aware of others,
pay closer attention to others,
actually think about others
and what it’s like for them,
whether young or old, students or not, everyone we know,
and call them,
talk to them,
listen to them,
not simply listen to our own voice telling them about us, but
LISTEN,
listen to what is being said beneath
what is being said,
hear
what they are feeling,
be someone to turn to,
be a voice they’re glad to hear,
a voice that makes them feel hopeful;
and find ways
to actually
SEE
someone,
even if masked, even if six feet apart,
but still a presence,
a real presence;
and
HELP
others
get the vaccine,
get to the store,
get to the doctor,
get back to school
(just wear a mask!),
get back to living;
and
PRAY
for them,
by name,
or by naming what they face,
especially for those battling the coronavirus,
those worn out caring for them,
those who mourn,
those struggling to save their businesses
or find work or have food enough,
those hanging on by a thread,
pray that they be healed, refreshed, comforted,
assisted, lifted in hope,
and that relief comes; and
TRUST,
trust them,
trust ourselves,
to your grace and mercy.
And that, O Lord, is what I have finally decided,
to trust,
and to keep trusting,
that with your help,
and by helping one another,
we can live in this virtual world
with a very real
hope,
even gladness,
until the virus is virtually gone
and life is virtually normal again.
Amen.