- Jun 20, 2014
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A church I attend has been thoughtfully delivering "spiritual care packages" via email to nourish our hearts during the quarantine, and this poem has been especially meaningful to me. I read it often, and wanted to share it with you:
Pandemic
by Lynn Ungar
What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.
And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.
Promise this world your love–
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.
March 11, 2020
Edited to add:
A wonderful young composer collaborated with a virtual choir to set the words of this poem to music, with the hope this new work would bring a sense of togetherness during this time of physical distancing. The composition was written in a style that would be accessible to singers of all ages.
You'll find learning tracks and a click track if you would like to make your own recording: www.martinsedek.com/reach
Pandemic
by Lynn Ungar
What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.
And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.
Promise this world your love–
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.
March 11, 2020
Edited to add:
A wonderful young composer collaborated with a virtual choir to set the words of this poem to music, with the hope this new work would bring a sense of togetherness during this time of physical distancing. The composition was written in a style that would be accessible to singers of all ages.
You'll find learning tracks and a click track if you would like to make your own recording: www.martinsedek.com/reach
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