By Rev. Lori H. Whittemore,
The people who walked in darknesshave seen a great light;those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,on them has light shone."—Isaiah 9:2
What a dark year 2020 has been. Much of the world became aware of the Coronavirus starting in January. By March and April the fullness of the health crisis started to become clear in the US as we experienced shut downs and watched horrific scenes of hospitals in NYC overrun with patients. And the rest of the year hasn’t improved. We walked in darkness this year.
Although my family was fortunate not to have experienced any close human loss of life, as have so many thousands in the pandemic, we did experience our own darkness. Over the course of 2020 we lost all of our family pets. Not only did these pets bring us joy and unconditional love, they symbolized my girl’s childhood years. A favorite picture is my young girls, probably around 6 and 9, dressed up in their Christmas dresses, each holding a cat. This year, as our animals began to fail, we were forced to think about their lives, our adventures together and let go. We had to face the end of an era.
As we entered the Advent season, I came across the passage from Isaiah that opens this reflection and pondered what light would and could lead me forward from personal loss and from the collective, lingering losses of 2020. I thought of a conversation I had with my eldest daughter. She said that she was tired of hearing how much people are “done” with 2020. She told me that this past year has really taught her to be grateful for what she has and what she has had. She is grateful for her job and the paycheck to pay her rent. Grateful that she is healthy and has access to healthcare. Grateful for the continued opportunity to work on her college education. Grateful for the years she had with Tom, Jerry, and Bailey.
Gratitude is the light leading me forward this year. As the Christian season of Advent culminates in the birth of the Son at Christmas, the flames of peace, hope, joy, and love have led me to this gratitude as well. Even with all of the darkness hanging on from the past year, the Light is shining brightly in our world. And in this time of pandemic, economic disparity, social unrest, and civic distress; I pray that the birth that is at the center of the Christian celebration will inspire hope, joy, peace, love, light—and deep gratitude!
Lori Whittemore a spiritual care volunteer for the American Red Cross and Maine Behavioral Health, as well as the founder and director of Abbey of Hope and Clinical Pastoral Training Center of Southern Maine (CPTCSM). Through CPTCSM she trains chaplains and pastoral care givers with today’s varied religious and spiritual landscape in mind. Rev. Whittemore approaches interfaith ministry from her Christian background and training as well as her interfaith education at Chaplaincy Institute of Maine.
Girls with Cats picture by Lori H. Whittemore.
