Pen-demic

  Oh God, I know you are always with me. You are with me when I rise and with me at the end of the day. Yet, I do not always see or feel you. In times of confusion or uncertainty I want to see signs of your presence. With dismay and sorrow, I witness people commit unjust acts against their sisters and brothers, not recognizing them as such. Each day we are confronted with more hatred and division. We are overwhelmed with incessant false news that deepens our division. Where can I find you in this world of chaos and grief? How can I find you? Are you calling out to us and we just aren’t listening? I remember times of sadness and doubt when your peace surrounded me and gave me hope and strength. How amazing and powerful is your love for us all. We desperately need to feel your love right now. Help us to open our eyes and hearts to the injustice and hatred around us. Create in us a desire to work towards understanding, compassion and reconciliation. Heal us from within so that we can ...

SARS. COVID-19. Vivianna’s life right now is bookended by these deadly diseases. 2003 was the year she joined our family. 2020 is her senior year in high school. Both events should be happy ones, filled with preparation and celebration. Yet, doubt and lack of control clouded her adoption process and now overshadows her senior year. In the spring of 2003 John and I anxiously awaited news of the baby in China who would be our daughter. We had waited a year and were expecting to be “next in line” to get the paperwork telling us we were “matched” with a baby girl. I wrote daily in a journal about our wait and throughout March and April the worry about SARS in China dominated my thoughts. I held off writing about SARS because I prayed it would soon go away. On April 25, 2003, I wrote about my fears. “This is supposed to be a time of joyous anticipation and excitement for us, but it has become clouded by uncertainty and fear. Please let us be able to travel to get our daughter!” The...