God continues to breathe new life into us
As I went out for my morning walk, I could tell spring was in the air. It's finally beginning to feel a little bit like May.
It reminded me of a spring tradition my brother and I have of taking a long bike trip. The tradition started when we were in graduate school at Catholic University. At the end of the semester in mid-May, we biked the 333 miles from Washington, D.C., to Pittsburgh.
From this beautiful memory, I was quickly snapped back to the reality that this is another thing that won't be happening on time for us this year.
For many of us, especially those who follow the Christian practice of Lent — a 40-day period of fasting, prayer and of giving something up — quarantine made sense as just another penance to add to the stack.
But now that we are in the Easter season, how can we balance the new life, hope and joy of Christ rising from the dead with staying indoors and a changing financial landscape? It seems paradoxical, but maybe it's not. Perhaps, if we look, we can still see the hidden signs of new life.
I've heard many beautiful stories over the past few days, from health-care workers giving all they can to families who are coming together in new ways and people who are giving back to the community — in socially responsible ways, of course. Although we are in tough times, God is still breathing new life into our world and into us.
Have you heard about the positive effect this quarantine has had on the environment? Have you seen how people really are coming together? And have you experienced, perhaps, a deeper growth in yourself, a reprioritizing of what is important in your life?
God is at work in all these hidden ways in you and in me. It is hard and I imagine few enjoy quarantine, but let's not forget that God still is breathing new life into us, He still loves us and He is still using all things to work for the good of those who love Him.
Let's take a moment of silence to breathe this in — His new life, His joy and His hope.
The Rev. Dan Waruszewski is the parochial vicar and director of youth & young adult ministries for Butler Area Catholic Parishes.
