There is no denying it that agitation plus restlessness and rising conflicts are now adding to the already stressful issues related to the pandemic. Quarantine life is a series of endless days listening to or watching newscasts, reading newspapers, and trying to maintain hope. Headlines in our local newspaper highlight issues of the day. Below are a few of today's headlines from our local newspaper:
- Floyd Protests Continue Across LI
- New Day of LI Protests of Floyd Death
- Trump visits shrine
- Episcopal bishop 'outraged' by president's visit
- Poll: Most would send kids to school (if there are social distancing measures in place)
- Tracking the Coronavirus
Days blend into the next as most people try to bring back into place some of life's routine practices. I do not believe that we can return to life as we knew it but I do hope that positive changes can occur. Below is my go-to scripture reading that brings me comfort.
Today is the monthly meet-up of my Spiritual Journey Thursday writing community. Ruth Hersey, educator and poet from Haiti, is our host this month. She suggested that our topic be hope, her one-word for this year. Hope was my one-word guide for 2018 so I am happy to continue sharing my journey with this word. Hope is a constant companion in my life because it is a faith-filled word that brings positivity into any of my troubling or trying situations. I rely on hope and the above scripture to lift me during confusing, sad, and stressful times. Oftentimes, I turn to writing and nature for additional comfort. You can read my latest quarantine life thoughts here.
Today is also Day 3 of Kathryn Apel's #PoetryPepUp Challenge. Kat is an Aussie poet friend. She has asked us to write a tetractys and hope seems to have found its way into my poetry again. Tetractys sounds like a dinosaur (LOL) but it is a 5-lined syllable poem.
Line 1-1 syllable
Line 2-2 syllables
Line 3-3 syllables
Line 4-4 syllables
Line 5-10 syllables
In This Moment
rest
wanders,finds no placeas upsets mount,protests, unrest but life moves on with hope
©CV, 2020
According to the Vatican News, on January 1, 2020, hope was at the heart of Pope Francis' World Day of Peace message. "Peace is a great and precious value, the object of our hope and the aspiration of the entire human family. Hope is the virtue that inspires us and keeps us moving forward, even when obstacles seem insurmountable."
I decided to create a commitment statement for the next month to keep hope alive. I shall practice hope daily in spite of obstacles that may seem insurmountable. How can you keep hope alive in your quarantine life?
Hope is certainly the word that we need right now, Carol. So many broken hearts. I think your third line is powerful. It's so hard to find rest during tumultuous times.
ReplyDeleteKat, these times are truly tumultuous. There are so many layers to what needs to be accomplished in both personal and national endeavors that hope has to be what guides us.
DeleteThank you for a hopeful post!
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you offered hope as the topic of discussion, Ruth. I cannot imagine living without having hope in our lives.
DeleteThank you, Carol, for your heartfelt message. Hope is a tricky word for me. I do hope, I encourage loved ones to hope. And, I feel that the word is used glibly in society. I appreciate your incorporation of poetry pep up in today's post! I have meant to--and I've gotten quite caught up in work at the moment. I wish I could spend my life as a poet more. Thanks for the beautiful tetractys.
ReplyDeleteLinda, I think we are all feeling the pressures of life and how it means putting aside some passions to accomplish the essential parts of any day. I know that I wake with a prayer and hope for a day of peace but that does not always happens. Thank you for joining me here, Linda.
DeletePracticing hope like practicing yoga requires intention and commitment. Your tetractys poem offers more hope than my angry one. Thanks for pointing to hope. I need it.
ReplyDeletePracticing hope has to be intentional. I know that these past weeks, I have had so much to accomplish that I could not see the forest through the trees. Writing helps me sort out of my feelings but for the most part I do not have blocks of undisturbed time. Therefore, I have to believe that the dark spots of each day will not take away my hope for joy. I am off to read your post.
DeleteLive does move on with hope, despite all. I have been thinking how hope is the impetus for action - the springboard to finding possibility and a better way through. As always, I come away from your words feeling stronger - very needed today. Thank you and bless you, Carol - that go-to verse is a mighty one, indeed.
ReplyDeleteI have had that verse on the top of my pocket Bible and it is so comforting just to look at. I am not sure how people who are not faith-based make it through the struggles in life. Thank you, Fran, for always being supportive in an inspirational way.
DeleteThanks for this message, Carol. Upon reading your words, it strikes me that yes, we do need to have intent to remain hopeful. It isn't a matter of how we feel that day, but how we turn our thoughts and hearts. We have difficult times, but we also have choice in how we respond. This is a needed insight, and I thank you again.
ReplyDeleteKaren, you hit on a thought that is so important. "We have choice on how we respond." Sometimes, I feel so upset just because of the way I respond to difficult times. I know that I have to be more intentional to keep hope in the forefront when the darkness clouds my vision.
DeleteIt's hard to commit to keeping hope alive when all around us are signs of despair. I'll commit to a continuing quiet time as I try to figure out what actions to take daily. I love the quote you shared from the Pope's message, "Hope is the virtue that inspires us and keeps us moving forward, even when obstacles seem insurmountable." Thanks for sharing hopeful thoughts with us.
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