Hello, !
It's Maycember and like you, my calendar is full, full, full. In the past week alone I've traveled, graded assignments, hosted
gatherings, submitted final grades, attended ordinations online, graduations in person (one of them fully masked - because Covid is back!), worship services, parties, lunch dates, birthday dinners, and faculty meetings. All this while continuing to manage and support family members through complicated seasons of crisis and recovery.
Even that list makes me tired. And worse, it lures me into judgment of myself. You're tired, too? Read on...
I look back at this week, and I wonder: Should I have ditched the events? Said NO more often? Canceled my trip? Just taken a nap?
But let's put a pause on the judgment, okay? Because in fact, I did not try to do everything. I did say no to some things. And I shortened my travels. I limited my time at various events. Believe me, I took many naps this week!
We can judge ourselves for being caught up in busy-ness. Or we can reframe our experiences and the reality of this season. We can see how showing up can be just going through the motions. Or it can be a sacred experience. Some days last week I only had energy to show up. And it was worth it.
You know what else I did this week?
I celebrated my grad students. They are spectacular! I wrote blessings like the one at the top of this page (you can share it with a grad, if it resonates for
you). I met families. Gave hugs, and made so many selfies! Shared cards and cups of coffee with kids I've watched grow up since they were preschoolers. I cried through worship with strong sense of catharsis. I remembered people who are not crossing the stages of accomplishment this year, because they died too young. I acknowledged my own ambiguous losses. And I connected with people at every stage of life.
These are the moments I absolutely do not want to miss.
They are the high and holy moments of life. The fully alive moments. Not just measures of achievement or accomplishment or progress. But moments when we see each other. Acknowledge the joys and losses of our lives. Meet the people who got their beloveds through these big transitions.
As I said last
week: May is such a busy month, but it is worth it to stop and pay full attention to the holy all around us.
My last week, coming on the heels of an utterly exhausting spring, was full
of the moments I love and treasure. I'm glad I did not miss them. I'm glad I looked into eyes and said works of blessing and encouragement, shared my own joys and struggles. Even the hardest moments can also be the most holy encounters.
I was also glad to have written things in recent years that were worth sharing in these moments. If you need a blessing for beloveds and family, teachers and
mentors, or the graduates themselves, here are some graduation blessings. I hope you will feel free to download and share them. (Just click on the image and
you'll find all three blessings.)
