The Journey to Freedom 3/23/20

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Desert Sands

I hope that you had a restful first weekend of our quarantine.

This weekend, I walked outside for the first time in 8 days.  I was so happy to feel that fresh air and sun.  It was so heartwarming to feel the kindness and smiles of everyone as we walked by each other – at a 6 foot distance.

As I prepare for Passover, I think about the Exodus story.  The Hebrews fled from slavery in Egypt, wandered in the desert wilderness, and reached Freedom in the Promise Land.

These three stages can be viewed as Past, Present, and Future.

The Past – Slavery — to an ideal or habit

The Present – Wandering — and discovering new possibilities

The Future – Hope and faith in freedom — and a seeking new beginning

Applying this framework to Corona, we can reflect on the three stages:

The Past – Pre Corona

  • What is a familiar daily object or habit (pre-corona) that you may have been enslaved to that you no longer miss?

The Present – During Corona

  • In our desert wandering, what is something new that you have discovered or learned during this corona circumstance?

The Future – Freedom Post Corona

  • What is something you are looking forward to when we forge our freedom from corona?

For me, I will share my experiences.

 The Past – Pre Corona

  • What is a familiar daily object or habit that you may have been enslaved to that you no longer miss?
    • I have been enslaved to my daily travel bag –an LL Bean Photo Butler Bag which contains my travel essentials. It has been within my eyesight at all times for the past two years as I have been traveling constantly.  During this corona period, it is in my upstairs storage room…I do not miss it.

The Present – During Corona

  • In our wandering, what is something new that you have discovered or learned during this corona circumstance?
    • I have learned the possibilities of video calls.
    • With my first ZOOM conference call last week, I was so excited by the possibility of genuine human intimacy despite geographic distance.
    • I discovered “Virtual High Fives” on the screen to give a handshake which needs to be reinvented in this context.
    • I have discovered Nightly facetime calls with my daughters Lucy and Caroline. It is so much fun to see our faces together on the small screen and create such a big feeling of love and togetherness.

The Future – Post Corona

  • What is something you are looking forward to when we forge our freedom from corona?
    • A hug.
      • Now I simply hope and pray for the day when I can hug my loved ones, who are now not with me, in person.
    • I now realize that freedom with loved one can be found in a simple embrace.

Stay safe and secure.

Regards,

Andy