Physically Isolated but Spiritually Connected
These Times

a sign of the times

Dear Mayfield,
It is a hard time right now in communities large and small. There are harsh edges to what we see and hear.Crisis layers of pandemic, severe economic decline, and core social unrest are all with us in addition to whatever challenges are present in our personal and family lives. Nerves are raw and frayed in Chicago. Nightly curfews are in place from 9:00 pm until 6:00 am the following morning. Public transportation ceases overnight. Saturday night brought great devastation to the heart of downtown and adjoining neighborhoods. Destructive behaviors spread like wildfire across neighborhoods to the south and west on Sunday night. Meanwhile the critical voices of peaceful protest were being drowned out by more extreme behavior. Early yesterday evening, a very large, peaceful protest began at the Belmont El Stop in my neighborhood, making its way to Uptown, the next neighborhood to the north. Buildings were boarded up along the route. A huge crowd abided by the parameters set out by march organizers — no violence, no provoking police, no hate speech or you will be asked to leave.  The march and programming built around it concluded by 9 pm and the onset of curfew. Property destruction was minimal. There was no dramatic and violent backlash following the march as had been true in other neighborhoods on previous nights.  Another such march is scheduled here for 2:00 pm today beginning at Wrigley Field and heading south on Clark. Neighbors will wait and see again what the character of this gathering will be. Will there be painful cleanup? It is a hard time right now.

Into the struggle, into the righteous anger, into the desperation that is boiling over, into the fear, confusion, grief, and anxiety that are being felt, I bring two resources today, both rooted in Ireland. The first was passed on to me by Theresa.  It is strikingly beautiful.  I encourage you not only to listen to this heart deep Irish music. Please also read the story around it. For the first time ever, people from every county on the island and from 300 active Christian communities are offering as one this gift of blessing and protection for the larger world. Listen here.  LINK

It is impossible for me to travel to Ireland in person, virtually, or in my imagination without bringing into our common reflection the wisdom of John O’Donohue.  His blessing “For Love in a Time of Conflict” is found below. Pause with it today. Carry it with you into the many days ahead where we will need to commit regularly to love facing pandemic, economic decline, and the systemic wound of racism. Hear the music of blessing and protection coming to us across the sea. Receive that blessing and protection so that you might become such blessing and extend such protection, moving with care into what lies ahead.  Peace, Martha

For Love in a Time of Conflict (John O’Donohue)
When the gentleness between you hardens
And you fall out of your belonging with each other,
May the depths you have reached hold you still.

When no true word can be said or heard,
And you mirror each other in the script of hurt,
When even the silence has become raw and torn,
May you hear again an echo of your first music.

When the weave of affection starts to unravel
And anger begins to sear the ground between you,
Before this weather of grief invites
The black seed of bitterness to find root,
May your souls come to kiss.

Now it the time for one of you to be gracious,
To allow a kindness beyond thought and hurt,
Reach out with sure hands
To take the chalice of your love,
And carry it through this echoless waste
Until this winter pilgrimage leads you
Toward the gateway to spring.