January 2022
On the list of things that most people don’t want to hear is the all too common declaration, “You look tired.” You will likely do better in life if you determine to never say those three words in that order. Even if you are aiming at compassion and sympathy, find better words. Having said that, just about everyone is looking tired these days.
I watched a couple of moments of a press conference by a provincial public health officer (not Bonnie) today. What was communicated, more than information about restrictions and public health plans, was one thing - exhaustion on the part of the speaker.
Everyone is tired in some way or another. I suppose that someone somewhere is having the time of their lives. Historically, even during times of trouble, pestilence or war there has been a small number of people who are prospering and enjoying it.
You have no doubt heard by now that the world’s ten richest men doubled their wealth during the pandemic. The articles that I saw about this usually had some accompanying photo of Bezos, Musk and the gang. I’m assuming that you are okay without seeing the line-up.
Well, good for them, right? Actually, no. It is clear that such a reality points to a sickness in our society. One day maybe one person will have ALL the wealth. Ah, progress! That person could then just choose from among the huddled masses who he (assuming “he”) would next bring into space on his rocket ship.
Anyway, enough of that. The rest of us, or most of the rest of us, are tired of all of this. Tired of the pandemic. Tired of the division and strife. Tired of e-learning, and fear of contagion. I read an article this week that reviewed some recent movies and novels. The author (Amanda Hess) argued that the movies, tv shows and books she discussed (“The Lost Daughter”, “I Love You, But I’ve Chosen Darkness”, “And Just Like That”, “The School for Good Mothers”), highlight, in some way, a double-standard around moms leaving their children as compared to dads doing the same. The article is interesting in its own right, but what most struck me was a sentence buried in a consideration of how little time moms get for themselves. The sentence could apply at any time, but it pertains particularly to this COVID era.
“Especially recently, when avenues of escape have been sealed off: schools closed, day care centers suspended, offices shuttered jobs lost or abandoned in crisis. Now the house is never empty and also you can never leave.”
These kinds of sentences can occasion prayer. How are you tired? How are the people around you tired? How are those who are very different than you tired as well? Praying for parents who feel stuck and closed in can lead to praying for people who are lonely and closed in, or for people who are bored more than they are busy. Busyness and boredom are both precursors to exhaustion.
Dear God;
Grant blessing and light to all of us who are tired today. We pray that parents living under the pressure of work and school and all of life, almost entirely at home, would know space and light and breath and even joy. We know that you don’t have to be a parent to be tired. We pray for all the tired people. We pray for those who are tired of the anger all around. We pray for those who turn to anger out of their exhaustion. It would be nice if they could get some sleep.
What does rest for our souls mean? It sounds good.
We’ll pray for that.
Amen.