Yesterday evening, Ron and I were sitting outside the lovely home we rent. It was a perfect evening. I had spent the day in Leominster visiting some former parishioners and friends. It was nice to catch him up on some of the happenings in town and now that we have moved out of Leominster, it feels less invasive to be getting together with former parishioners. We don’t talk First Church business, but we do talk church and how challenging, isolating and hard this COVID year has been. One woman, my former organist, pianist, music director, spoke with such passion and pain about the closing of churches. She said, never ever should a church not be open and she applauds the many ways that churches have tried to be responsive to its members but she is heartbroken and lonely and was so excited to be sitting face to face with former church members. We spoke of meetings by Zoom, the advantages that it is a leveler for participation- no matter where one is, or if they are physically restricted, or have child care needs, or spouse and home responsibilities they can attend meetings and church and small group discussions. We spoke of worship by Zoom and how hard it must be for the participants— i agree totally and completely. So much to think of, background noise, background scenery, lighting, sound, where the camera cuts off heads and hair and ears and how close to get and how far to stand back and will it upload and will that 10 second blip not be right in the middle of an important word.
Ron and I were sitting there wondering about our backyard in Leominster too, did the turkeys come by for the new owners yet, how about the skunk, racoon and rabbits. We were bemoaning a little bit how we missed that wildlife when suddenly Ron shushed me and whispered look there is a small red fox right by the garage. Wow, she was beautiful and she just cavalarly walked right beside the garage and came out in the back yard, sauntering off as if she belonged there and she does. What a treat, of course we both dared to ask, “do you think she will chase away the ground hog family, who are eating us and our neighbor out of house and home?” We don’t know but those groundhogs are not phased by the have-a-heart trap, in fact,I think they use it as a picnic table. And, as much as i want them relocated I really do enjoy sitting outside at my picnic table watching the wildlife, listening to the birds, stretching out my legs in all new surrounding and loving this change in residency.
I know not all changes are welcome but this one has been stressful but wonderful and stress is a reminder of my humaness.
Here is hoping for a warm and wonderful August. So far so good.
I’m here for you, do be in touch, if you want to meet up for a get to know, share our life experiences- get together.
In the meantime, be extra careful COVID is still not gone and we need to be extra vigilant so we can get together safely.
Rev. Susan Suchocki Brown
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