Partnering During A Pandemic: Catching Up on Hope in the Midst of a Mess
As we in North America are emerging from summer into fall in an era of pandemic, in a season of planetary rebellion against climate change marked by epic fires and floods, in a new scholastic year in which children, parents and teachers are greatly stressed, and in a time of societal convulsion fevered by political strife, we are grateful for the faithful prayers and accompaniment of our brothers and sisters in El Salvador. Our prayer chains are connected. Photos are sent this way and that. Birthday greetings show up on Facebook walls. Little pieces of news about our children, our elders, and our churches travel via social media while people cannot travel at all. In our messy, messy world, this quiet, mutual accompaniment is beautiful, faithful, and encouraging. Beautiful, beautiful. My heart is jumping with joy. I feel so happy that we are a great communion of partnership. For so many years of partnership, with all the details that we have shared in our lives, this prayer was a