The Delta Storm is Here and Now . " Fred" is Hypothetical

                                     Butterfly. Just because... Photo by The Pensacola Hippie

So the amateur storm chasers in my social media feed are " tracking" and " predicting" where this latest system-- to be named Fred if it develops-- will make landfall. Now I { try to} understand why it helps some people to share news and storm path possibilities with everyone they know. I'm told that this helps some people feel better about living in Hurricane Alley. 

It does not  help me. As a matter of fact, I've snoozed several good people on Facebook within the past couple of days because my mind and soul just do not have the emotional/spiritual band-with needed to discuss POSSIBLE storm situations. 

I cannot add more to my plate right now: too much real shit is happening in my life, and I need the energy to faith-fully serve them. I found out yesterday that a family whom I know & love here all came down with COVID. Thankfully, three of the four of them are vaccinated, but their youngest child has yet to be  cleared for vaccination { Please, please hustle more with the FDA approval, US Health Department! }Children all over Florida are returning to school, and our Governor is using his Executive Order power to threaten to pull state money if school districts revolt against the no-masking requirement. 

A dear, long-term, Christ-following friend of mine is homebound due to a chronic illness. Since she and I have been vaccinated, I went to see her after church on Sunday In order to make sure I do all I can to protect her, I washed my hands & wore a mask. We had a wonderful visit when we could look into each other's eyes and hear our voices, but she could not see the big smile under my mask.  When the time came to leave I refrained from hugging her-- or even holding her hand. While I did { and will do} all of these things to protect vulnerable people I love, it pained my soul to have a masked and touchless visit. 

Stories like mine are not rare in Florida and other places. I willingly return to covering my face in public or in the presence of vulnerable people { such as children or medically-fragile adults} 

So no-- I lack the band-with to follow a hypothetical Atlantic storm system--- and until it enters the Gulf,,  IF it enters the Gulf-- I will set some boundaries. I understand that Northwest Florida was ravaged by " Sally"s unexpected sharp turn so I understand why people are afraid. But I cannot afford to let storm stress live in my head right now. Storms with names are frightening, but years of Gulf Coast life leave me confident with how to prepare if one should enter the Gulf. I see no need to run to the store and buy all the bread, beer and toilet paper weeks in advance of a storm's projected path. 

If I buy anything in bulk, it is : cleaning supplies, plastic Ziplock bags, and plenty of hand sanitizer. Yesterday, for good measure, I purchased two new cloth masks that are washable, adjustable and breathable for Brian and me. 

Life is short, and if any outside force deserves some of my emotional labor, it is helping to stop the Delta variant from infecting more people.  I'm not borrowing trouble by acting on my concern for the spread of the virus here in Florida-- especially since it is affecting people I know & about whom I care. 

It also puzzles me-- as a non-native Floridian-- why people are more willing to stress over potential storms while ignoring the huge viral storm crisis that is here now. 

Please don't talk to me about scary weather. I've been in Florida for almost 23 years and I know how to deal with storms. People who still think a deadly virus is a hoax and/or thinks that the vaccine is really some sort of microchip are who scare me. 

~Sarah McCarren

12 August 2021

 

Life is Short, so LOVE as Much as Possible.

Photo of a sermon illustration , based on the Godly Play story entitled {The Ten Best Ways To Live_ 

There is a benediction that is used often at the end of Mass at my church. The words strike me as especially apropos during these times. 

The benediction prayer is as follows: 

Life is short,

And we do not have much time

to gladden the hearts of those who

make the journey with us.

So… be swift to love,

and make haste to be kind.

And the blessing of God,

who made us,

who loves us,

and who travels with us

be with you now and forever.

AMEN Henri Frederic Amiel (1821-1881}

During this { extended, due to a variant and people REFUSING to mask and/or get the vaccine}COVID season, I've had four significant deaths in my circle. Thankfully, no on e I loved has died from COVID, but the pandemic kept us away from celebrating these people's lives in a way that brought comfort and closure to many of us.

The most significant loss that I'm dealing with is the loss of my paternal Grandmother, Anne. Grandma, who would have turned 91 years old in late July had been a nurse and then nurse practitoner at a small hospital in Bumpkintown, Pennsylvania before her retirement. Granma would have had much to say to people who choose to believe unreliable sources of information over proven science.

Vaccines work. No, since this is a new virus, the science isn't perfect. However, people who get sick in spite of vaccination have a much milder case than vaccine refusers.

Anyway, back to the Godly Play story. The biggest commandments, according to the story by Jerome Berryman is this " Love God. Love. People. God Loves You."

It is a simple commandment, but hard to do when we are asked to wear hot, uncomfortable masks in public. { Additionally for we eyeglasses wearers, its a challenge to keep our spectacles fog-free}

Right now, love of neighbor demands that we wear masks in public. Are they uncomfortable ? Heck yes they are!! { I wear glasses and live in hot, humid Florida} But the commandment to love people as I love God means that I do what I can to keep myself and { more importantly} others safe.

Loving God and people can require sacrifice. I'm not a parent, but since my parents are thankfully still living, I know that they continue to make sure that their two offspring and our spouses are safe, fed and housed. Love of his family led my dad to rent a beautiful cabin in the western North Carolina mountains so{ VACCINATED} family and friends could come together safely in a beautiful setting.

That is an example of LOVE. In these times, there is no certainty that we'll see or loved ones " next time", so I am gratful for that holy time on the mountain with my kin.

At church, I willingly follow both the bishop's and my priest's directions for safely worshipping together on Sundays. Love required once again for us to push the start of our program year to a time when children are able to get their vaccines.

Life is short--- and for too many people around the wotld, life ended much quicker than they anticipated. If this COVID nightmare has one positive" take-away lesson for me, it would be this:

"Life is short,

And we do not have much time

to gladden the hearts of those who

make the journey with us.

So… be swift to love,

and make haste to be kind..." ~Henri Amiel

Each act of kindness and compassion matters , and we should spread kindness because it is what Jesus would want us to do if He were here now. Loving God & God's People looks like altering our behaviors and protecting others { and ourselves} from an illness that has killed too many people. Living in Florida, I can tell you now that the government cannot be depended upon to look after everyone's health & safety. It is up to we the people-- individuals and private businesses and organizations-- to encourage other to act on love by masking and vaccinations.

Make this life count. Set the example on how to love others.

Love is an action verb, and right now it is a lot of hard, uncomfortable work for we people of faith.

Spend quality time with { vaccinated} family & friends. Say : "I love you" to people who are not your romantic partner. English is woefully inaccurate in verb usage for the many types of love that we humans experience.

But it is all we go, so say it. More importantly, put LOVE into action.

In the Name of the Holy Three..

~Sarah McCarren

11 August 2021

 

Vaccines and Masks Save Lives

                                     Me,  masked and ready to serve at the altar at church on Sunday. Photo by Brian 

  Y'all, I am continuing to do my part and mask up when I am 

~ Indoors in public

~ Outdoors in crowds of people whom I don't know, on the rare occasions that I am outdoors in a crowd. Florida's unvaccinated numbers scare me. No large public gatherings for Brian and me until September. 

~When I visit someone who is vaccinated yet vulnerable if they catch breakthrough COVID. 

 Basically, I mask not so much to protect myself{ though isolation from COVID would be two weeks of psychological torture that I want to avoid at all costs} I'm not a high risk person-- if I do catch a breakthrough case, I won't die. 

Yesterday I visited a dear friend whom I've known since my college days: she has remained a part of my life and one of the most Christ-following Christians I know.  I wore my mask and made sure I washed my hands before I went to her house. When  our visit ended, I did not hug her { as much as my soul longed to do just that since we hadn't seen each other since COVID came to the USA } or even shake her hand. 

 Thanks to people who refuse to take the vaccine, loving each other means careful consideration with each interaction with people we love-- in spite of people in my life who did their patriotic duty and got the shots. Vaccinated people -- even if we don't fall ill with a breakthrough case, can be carriers. 

  This particular variant is hard on younger bodies-- and children are still waiting for their turn to get their shots. Additionally, vaccinated but still medically-fragile adults of any age need to be protected from the possibility of a breakthrough transmission. 

  I am so weary of the ' my body, my choice' argument.  While I do believe that our bodies have agency, the need to protect the public from a deadly virus super cedes any notion of " my body, my choice to vaccinate" Choosing to not get vaccinated IS NOT the same of choosing whether or not to get a piercing or tattoo. Living, breathing, known & loved souls are depending on all of us working together to stop this spread. Regarding choice and abortion, if you do not own or have owned a uterus-- don't even try that " life begins at conception" baloney with me. What I-- or anyone else with a uterus-- chooses to do with our reproductive lives is no one's business. 

  I'm tired, y'all. I was vaccinated as soon as I was able to be-- and I made the mistake of thinking other adults would care enough about humanity to roll up their sleeves. It is August of 2021 and I still am being careful so to protect the vulnerable among us. 

  I can only ask you to do the same. 

  Peace...

 ~Sarah McCarren

   August 9 2021

Rituals

 

                                                 Stones, an olivewood cross, a lavender-scented candle, abd my Grandmother's pearls arranged on my home altar. I find rituals that involve most of the senses God gave us to comfort me during times of uncertainty. Photo by The Pensacola Hippie

 Most people do not know this, but I was baptized into Christ's Family via The Presbyterian Church. I owe these good Christians a lot for sharing the stories of Jesus in a way that my teenaged brain could comprehend. But if I was honest back then, I would admit that I prefer the ancient rituals that my Grandmother's Roman Catholicism employed. My full self-- not just my eyes & ears  were engaged with those ancient Christian rituals. 

  It was the need for ritual that was a big driving force in my journey to The Episcopal Church. I'm grateful to our Reformed Christian siblings for introducing me to a critical reading of both the New and Old Testaments of Holy Scripture-- feeding my " head knowledge". However, my heart knowledge needed the ancient yet relevant liturgical and community practices of  the Anglican Branch of God's Mansion. 

  During the height of the pandemic, I fund myself relying more on the Daily Offices to keep the days from blurring together. When church service were only available online, Brian and I would " attend" church virtually with our clergy & people and share in ceremonial bread & wine after church{ It wasn't, according to my understanding of what our bishop allowed " home Communion, but it was the acts of sharing the bread & wine together that sustained me. 

  Now that we are once again living more restricted lives due to COVID, I find peace in using my home altar in creative ways. For instance, I burn a white candle daily. In front of this white candle is a photo of my dear Grandmother { may her soul rise in glory and DANCE} . 

  In Godly Play's Baptism story, there is a part where the storyteller says " Watch me when i change this light.  The light doesn't go away, it changes.  Instead of being at one place, the light is now filling the room and going everywhere. 

  Candles have become a big part of my Pandemic Rituals. In addition to my white Grandma Candle, I keep a lavender-scented one and light it when I need an extra dose of healing from the Divine Mother.  Additionally, since I am experience life both visually and in a tactile way, I've started researching semiprecious stones and their meanings.  One of the stones that I've always felt drawn to is amethyst--my Mom tells me I've always been drawn to purple. 

  This pandemic has, and continues, to challenge our resilience,  Ritual, both solo and communal, helps me make sense of all the nonsense that humankind throws at each other. Ritual helps me, in a tangible way, to tap into that Divine Feminine strength with which I was born. I've always felt closest to Creator God in nature, so bringing elements of nature to my ritual table helps to connect me with all humanity. 

Today I give thanks for rituals. 

 In the Name of the Mother, the Sibling, and the Life Force...

Amen. 

~Sarah McCarren

7 August 2021

Masking as " Mitzvah"

                                     Me, masked and walking around UWF last Autumn. Photo by Brian

    Disclaimer: I am 50 percent Ashkenazi Jewish  on my Mother's side of my family. So-- please don't tell me I am employing " cultural appropriation".   Thanks. :) 

   I live in Florida-- where the COVID virus is spreading like wildfire among { mostly} the unvaccinated. 

  Many people have argued that they don't think the " need" to return to masking, since they are vaccinated. 

   First of all, thanks to all people who have rolled up their sleeves. I know many people for whom this was a no-brainer choice , and others had to think about the risks of an " experimental" vaccine versus the benefits.  

  Folks I know who are " breakthrough" cases of COVID-- vaccinated but tested positive for the virus anyway-- report little to no symptoms. On the other hand, reports from hospitals all around the nation say that the ICU beds are filled with patients who were not vaccinated. 

  Furthermore, since the FDA has yet to approve vaccinations for people under age 12, children are getting sick with the variant that is worse on younger bodies. 

  In the Jewish faith , a mitzvah is defined as such: 

       1. a commandment of the Jewish Law. 

       2. a meritorious or charitable act. 

Christians need to remember that Our Savior, Brother, and Friend was a Jewish rabbi.  He knew the Hebrew scriptures backwards & forwards. The Gospels, the sacred stories of His life and teachings, lean much on His Jewish upbringing and education. 

 Whether we like it or not, we humans are communal creatures. Our actions-- especially our actions during a worldwide pandemic-- have consequences for others who are waiting for their turn for the vaccine. The modern American archetype of the "Lone Wolf" is a dangerous one- not to mention terribly inaccurate, as wolves are pack animals. I cherish the freedoms that our Constitution grants us, but there are times in human history where the survival of all of us-- including the weak-- requires us to be uncomfortable . 

  I am the first to say I HATE MASKS.  I hate wearing them, I hate seeing other people cover their smiles with them. But, until there is more of a control of this illness, I will wear the darn, hot, glasses-fogging masks when I am indoors in public. 

  I wear masks for myself. I'm vaccinated but the last thing my mental health needs right now is a two-week quarantine. After spending most of last spring and summer with only my spouse as company, I am ready to mix with vaccinated people again. 

  More importantly, I wear masks to make sure I do all I can to NOT SPREAD the virus . We who have been vaccinated still can be asymptomatic carriers. 

  Vice-President Kamala Harris, in her memoir _ The Truth We Hold_ has this to say about corporate responsibility { Stop right there. No partisan mudslinging on my blog please. I adore Madame VP Harris-- and it is okay if you do not like her. Just scroll on...} VP Harris writes: " ... being a good person means standing for something larger than yourself; that success is measured in part by what you help others achieve and accomplish." 

  It is true that the actions { inactions} of people who chose to not get vaccinated are now affecting everyone. People who had gotten the vaccine can and are getting milder COVID cases. This is not fair-- but rather than digging in my heels and refusing to wear a mask because  I did my part and got vaccinated  will not help us accomplish a COVID-free nation. More adults need to get on the vaccination train before we can think about claiming ' herd immunity'. 

  I am willing to look at masking and curbing my social interactions as a mitzvah-- a charitable act done to benefit others. I can't force anyone to wear the mask and/or get the vaccine, but  people of faith { and not just Christians} should seek ways to make the nation and planet safer for all people. 

  Like it or not; true freedom means that we are free to choose the better path. I know I cannot make choices for other adults-- but I can do my best to remind people of faith that both the Old and the New Testaments in the Bible command us to care for others. 

  In the Name of the Holy Three,

   ~Sarah McCarren

     6 August 2021

 

A Prayer for the Times

                                               A prayer for the times. I found this on Facebook today. 

I found the following prayer on Facebook this morning. 

God...Keep my anger from becoming meanness...Keep my sorrow from collapsing into self-pity...Keep my heart soft enough to keep breaking...Keep my anger turned towards justice, not cruelty. 

Remind me that all of this, every bit of this, is for love. 

Keep me fiercely kind. 

In the Name of the Holy Three....

Amen. 

I had a talk with my priest earlier this week regarding the faith-full response to people who still refuse to take COVID seriously enough to get the vaccine and/or wear masks during this surge. I am doing my best to follow her advice to find room in my heart for the grace God offers each of us-- no matter what we think, do or believe as truth. But to be honest, all I can muster right now is to not actively hate the people { I know several-- they are not in my immediate circle, thank goodness, but I know them}My priest reminded me that we are commanded by Christ to love all our siblings-in-faith & she is 100 percent correct. But right now-- all I can do is shake my head and continue to love others by doing my part to keep COVID from making more people sick.

This is exhausting work. 

This week I asked my doctor to prescribe generic Valium so I can deal with daily life in semi-isolation. The medication helps turn what would have been unhealthy rage into righteous frustration . I do my best to be a part of the solution, my spouse & I are always masked when we are indoors in public & I see a few businesses requiring employees to mask up at work. { Noted and we'll frequent these places in the future}

COVID has challenged me every day to not morph into an angry, bitter person. While there are days that I AM angry/bitter/pissed off I know I cannot wallow in the negativity. 

Vice-President Kamala Harris write in her autobiography

" Do we retreat or do we fight? I say, we fight. And I intend to fight. " 

COVID may have won a battle-- but the war against this common enemy is far from over. Once again, decent people everywhere are asked to put one foor in front of the other until COVID runs its course { because it will} Our task is to keep the virus from taking as many innocent lives as possible. 

Responsible Americans-- it is time to rise up and fight Stand in solidarity with masked faces. 

Namaste...

~Sarah McCarren 

5 August 2021

Finned Family Member: Meet " Luna"

                              Our newest addition to the family: Meet " Luna", a female betta fish. Photo by The Pensacola Hippie 

  Brian and I brought home a new family member today. She is about two inches long, bright yellow with red markings on her fins and face, and lives in a habitat on my desk at home. 

  Her name is Luna and she is a betta fish. 

   Luna is special, since she is the first female betta I've known. Brian and I have kept bettas in the past, but until now they were all males. The guys tend to be the fancier-- more color-full of the betta species, so many people have not kept the gals. Luna caught my eye for her active, curious personality and gorgeous luminous colors. 

  I named her " Luna" after the character in the Harry Potter fandom: Luna Lovegood. I've always identified with this character in Potterland, as she is s bookish & awkward as I am.  I tend to name my fish after fandoms I follow, our last betta boy was named " Skywalker". 

  We set the tank up as soon as we got it home, As soon as I put little Luna into her environment, she immediately began to explore her surroundings. This is a good sign, as an active betta is a healthy betta. I'll probably feel nervous and not want tl leave the house for long for a few days, as Luna settles in and I make sure I don't need to get any medicine for her. We came home from North Carolina to a sick Skywalker-- and his fin rot was aggressive. We buried the poor little creature of God i our yard next to our dog, Seamus' grave. 

Anyone who has kept bettas know that each little creature is unique. I look forward to getting to kow " Luna" . 

Peace,

~Sarah McCarren