Week twenty-one of ordinary time

by Anna Gabhart

“The world needs people who are fluent in the language of tears.” Adele Ahlberg Calhoun

It’s week twenty-one of Ordinary Time. 

Ordinary: with no special or distinctive features; normal. Not unusual.

But these are not ordinary times. With a divisive election in one week and a pandemic that continues to rage I’m more prone to say that these times are quite the opposite.  

Unordinary: being especially out of the ordinary; out of place or out of sync. 

I want my sabbath to be ordered, to be a peaceful place to rest amongst all of the chaos. But lately it feels as though the chaos has taken over.

I’m taking solace in advice from Daniel Tiger (the animated kid’s program based off of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood). In an episode that I once overheard, while my niece watched in another room, Daniel learns that it’s ok to feel two feelings at the same time: completely overstimulated and incredibly numb, constantly on the verge of sad tears and deep laughter, spiraling fear and sweet hope for the future, relentless anger and the goodness of human empathy. And this is just the beginning of my list. 

This week, as a sabbath practice, I’m inviting you to weep. It is an invitation to physically let those feelings out of your body. Make room for God to fill the void, not with solutions, but with love and acceptance.  A still small voice saying, “It’s ok to feel the way you’re feeling. No explanation or excuses needed.” Maybe even make a list of those contradicting feelings. Write them down. Embrace the chaos; embrace the feelings. 

Remember Jesus wept over war and oppression and the illness and death of a friend. Could it be that we find solidarity with God through our tears, in our weeping? 

These may not be ordinary times, but what if weeping leaves room for God to do the extraordinary. 

Revelation 21: 3-5

 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

“See, the home of God is among mortals.

He will dwell with them;

they will be his peoples,

and God himself will be with them;[

he will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Death will be no more;

mourning and crying and pain will be no more,

for the first things have passed away.”

And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.”