No matter your political persuasion, these are anxious times. You might notice yourself constantly checking your phone for the latest news, scrolling through Twitter or Facebook to see what’s happening. You might have a hard time sleeping, or wonder what you can actually do in this time when so many suggestions seem to vie for your responses. Or, for you, life might be going on as usual.
As your church, we want to nurture your spiritual health, helping you connect with God as the source of your identity, your hope, and your action. We also want to make sure that any of you who need material support or prayer are able to connect with people who are able to offer that help. In that spirit, we offer a few ideas and a question:
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Think about curating your news. Sometimes we get our news from social media, which may not always be accurate or helpful. If you find yourself feeling anxious about keeping up with social media, consider taking a break and instead check local news (like sfgate.com, the San Francisco Chronicle) or a national news website, like NPR or the New York Times, or an international site like BBC or Al Jazeera English.
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Pray before you start reading the news. Sometimes, rather than jumping into news first thing, reading a prayer or listening to something like Pray As You Go can provide a meaningful reminder that God is already at work in this world, and in you. The prayer of examen is a spiritual exercise we will explore as a community during Lent, but you might want to start looking at it now.
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Remember that our deacons are here to help with physical, financial, and spiritual needs during times of crisis. They would be happy to talk with you, and you can reach them at their confidential hotline: 415.346.6994 x110
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Look at places like 5 Calls to figure out what practical actions you might want to take.
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Finally, because we want to “bear one another’s burdens,” we want to know how you are doing. Would you be willing to share what you fear and what you hope right now? We will not be sharing them, but will use them to craft our Lent liturgies and spiritual practices.