Nostalgia

During this time of quarantine, I have spent many moments thinking about the not so distant past. When a friend was looking for a fishing partner I was full of questions: was that allowed? How would it work? We would have to drive separately together, so the chatter of the trip would be missed. Social distancing at the stream would mean less chatter while there. No breakfast before or drinks after. Would it be worth it,, because, after all, fishing with a friend isn’t really just about fishing.

These ponderings have not been limited to just fishing, but the entire gambit of what the “new normal” would be like. Will we choose to go back to the old ways of doing business? I mean, curbside pickup is nice as is having the small taco place near us deliver. Will we continue to see grocery store workers as “heroes” and “essential workers” or will they go back to being invisible entities as we rush up and down isles of well stocked shelves. Will we continue to consider the social safety nets that were in place as being too small and having too many holes or will we emerge with a newfound compassion for “those in need” when “those” isn’t “us”. Will we take more into our future other than the understanding that zoom meetings are both a godsend and a PITA, that working form home works but loses something in the move, or that leadership counts and that electing the class clown isn’t ever the best idea?

During a very virtual Easter worship from a congregation that is progressive and does a great job (on “normal occasions” ) of blending some traditional hymns in with more contemporary music while following a traditional liturgy, I found it very comforting to hear the Preface and Words of Institution, phrases that are both traditional and grounding. I don’t know what the “new normal” will be like but I suspect that it will not be like the “old normal”, and that is good. Clinging tightly to the nostalgic leaves us unprepared for the new thing that God is doing; not bringing the best of what has been passed to us leaves us with a sense of “missing something” without knowing quite what that is.

When the time comes and we emerge from this quarantine, we must be mindful of the choices we make. What is it that we wish to keep? What should be left in the past? What lifestyle changes do we make? What social norms do we change? How does our society change? How can we be better at being more perfect as a society? How can we establish a system that looks to be more equitable in both our economic and judicial systems? How can we create conditions that enable people to live in peace and tranquility withing their homes? How do we defend the common person’s life and liberty as well as we do those who have celebrity or status? How do we secure our liberty and at the same time secure our safety?

As we sit at home, we realize with each passing day that there will be a “new normal”. Some of the changes will leave us breathless and excited; others, nostalgic. In the meanwhile, I sit at home and think about fishing.