Stretch

Each January for the past 5 years, I have looked forward to what has become one of my favorite spiritual practices - listening for a word that will become my sacred companion in the year to come. In the past, my words have included: "trust in the slow work of God," fallow, dance, still and play.

This year, after much prayerful consideration, I have landed on the word "stretch" as my sacred companion. I have recently come to realize that I am perhaps a bit too comfortable with the social isolation of my covid cocoon. As an introvert, I have cherished the silence and limited social interactions. And, I am profoundly grateful for the privilege of a job that has allowed me the flexibility to work from home. (My spiritual direction practice has adapted remarkably smoothly to an on-line platform.) Truth be told, I could dwell quite comfortably in this cocoon for years to come.

However, I don't believe that I (or any of us, really) am called to live forever in isolation. To use a bit of John Wesley language, I believe that we are called both to personal piety and social holiness - to care for both our own spiritual wellness and to care for our communal well-being. That means that during the year to come, as we ever so slowly inch our way back toward more in-person interactions, I will need to be very intentional about stretching myself to be social again!

For my dear fellow introverts, this may all sound familiar. However, for my dear extroverted friends, I can only imagine that you are awaiting more social interaction with bated breath!

My prayer as we ease our way into whatever the coming year holds is that I will be able to stretch out of my comfort zone and forward toward whatever lays ahead. I wrote this little haiku as a word of encouragement to myself - a reminder to stretch ever so gently as I emerge slowly from this cocoon, spread my wings, and fly into whatever comes next.

May you also gift yourself with moments of grace, forgiveness, love and hope as you stretch into the year to come. God is doing a new thing for all of us. May we have eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart to hope.