Incarnation

Dear Friends in Christ -

I’ve been thinking a lot about how hard it is to be human. Yesterday, I visited one of our parishioners in the psychiatric ward of a hospital. Let me tell you, there is not a bleaker place on this planet. Colorless, dimly lit, smelling like disinfectant, "safe." Nothing in sight that one could use to hurt oneself. But also no sign whatsoever of anything that felt warm or comforting.

Until I saw a couple of the nurses walk by. One nurse was wearing bright pink scrubs, a ponytail and a Christmas button that flashed red and green. The other nurse was dressed in bright blue scrubs and had on a black hijab (head covering for Muslim women). Their presences brought a sudden little bit warmth to the place.

Then I saw the person I came to see. When we first greeted, I could feel the flame of my spirit flickering so dim, pulled down by the post-Christmas-Day doldrums and the bleakness of the place. But as I talked and prayed with the person I came to see, the flame with in me and, I sensed, within my conversation partner as well, started to burn a little brighter and steadier. This was due to no special magic, no secret wisdom, just a sense of Presence and of connection with people who care beyond the beige walls.

I had a sense that this holy visit ushered in incarnation in its own way. I'm not sure I understand how, but understanding may be less the point than just showing up.

May God send you a visitor when you most need it, and may you be a visitor when someone else most needs it. In this way, may incarnation continue to manifest in our midst.

Faithfully,
Janet+