Returning to St Teresa

Additional time for writing turns out to be an unexpected benefit of self - isolating.  The sun is streaming in through the kitchen windows, highlighting little nuthatches and chickadees pecking away at their breakfast in feeders attached to the glass. I watch the birds and watch the cats watching the birds, forgetting for a moment that the world struggles against a tidal wave of infection. 

The cats have resigned themselves to merely watching the birds after several weeks of ineffectual clawing at the glass. Jack now sits unperturbed while they dine only feet from his head but Rex wanders around the kitchen muttering under his breath. Rex's annoyance burst through this morning when he unerringly attacked the most valuable object in the western world - the downstairs toilet paper roll. He sat on the back of the toilet and glared at me while depositing three-quarters of it onto the floor. We are attacked from without and within!

The Dravenstotts are being cautious and embracing the advice of medical professionals who recommend self-isolating for 14 days. Despite the parents' wariness, our children are still vectors of contagion, having gathered with friends as recently as two days ago. Daniel went out to play whiffle ball at the park - a seemingly harmless endeavor - but came back to show us videos of the boys clasping hands to form a human trampoline and taking turns throwing each other into the air. There was no six feet of distance between them, needless to say. I joked to Rob last night in macabre pillow-talk that Daniel hadn't succeeded in killing me yet but was still hell-bound to do so. A stern lecture on personal space was delivered at breakfast.

And yet...the times weigh a little heavy. Each night I turn to my favorite prayer, which St. Teresa of Avila wrote in the 16th century. You can find it written in many versions, but this is the one I say (if you don't believe in God you could substitute "love" or another unifying word):

Let nothing upset you,
Let nothing frighten you.
Everything is changing,
Only God is changeless.
Patience attains the goal.
Who has God lacks nothing,
God alone fills all our needs.

"Everything is changing" is both a promise and an acceptance. The world has always been thus and in this time of tumultuous change is no different. Let us hold fast to the things of most value, our love for one another and our hope.  Be well and be safe, and take some time to watch the birds. 
xoxo
Laura