Liz Wood

Dear friend,

How long can this go on?

When we first started taking actions to contain the pandemic back in March of this year, I don’t think anyone thought for a moment that we would be debating school openings this fall, or still holding most of our events by Zoom, well into the summer months. But here we are. And all of us know people who are struggling with the ongoing situation, others who are coping better and even some who seem to be thriving. What is it that makes some people better able to deal than others, more able to “go with the flow” or even make lemonade out of lemons? What is this factor called “resilience,” this ability to rebound and recover that some people have, even in the toughest times?

There are a number of things that seem to determine how resilient people are – not surprisingly, people who are more naturally optimistic, more likely to find opportunities in a given situation, more willing to focus on the positive, are better-equipped to deal with adversity. People who are altruistic fare better because they find purpose in helping others in difficult times. As you might expect, those of us lucky enough to have supportive friends and family can weather storms more easily than those who have to “go it alone.”

But the single greatest factor in resilience is having a belief in something greater than ourselves; the knowledge that it doesn’t begin and end with us and what we can or cannot do to control or change the situation.

The Psalmist David cries out to the Lord in his time of trouble. “Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need.” For the sake of our family and friends, we often try to paste on a smile and make the best of things, we don’t want to risk bringing other people down by revealing that we are feeling anxious and scared. But before God, we can admit our deepest fears and be our most vulnerable. We don’t have to put on a brave face or pretend that we are coping better than we really are: “When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way…Look and see, there is no one at my right hand, no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my lif.”. When we feel most alone and our faith is faltering, we can bring our most desperate and broken selves to Him and pour out our troubles. And we can ask for strength, the strength that only God can give us. We can seek resilience.

Lord, our God, we are in the shadow of your wings. Protect us and bear us up. You will care for us as if we were little children, even to our old age. When you are our strength, we are strong; but when we are our own strength, we are weak. We now return to you, O Lord, that we may never turn away again. Amen —St. Augustine of Hippo

Liz Wood