John 15:26 & 16:7&8
15:26 [And Jesus said] “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth who comes from the Father, she will testify on my behalf…
16:7…Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send her to you.
16:8 And when she comes, she will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment…”
Reflection from Spiritual Director – Francie Thayer
There were zero patients with Covid-19 today at San Francisco General Hospital for the first time since March 5, 2020.
This is a very big deal.
As I let this “tweet” sink in, read to me by my son sitting in the next room, I was struck by the physical lightening I felt in the moment. It is subtle, the weight we have all been carrying. It is subtle and it is real, and it is heavy, with the uncertainty and fear and all the unknown.
And there were zero Covid-19 patients today.
I can’t help but think about the letting go that is happening. I feel invited into letting go of the way of being that felt like part of self-preservation these last 15 months. It seems it’s no longer necessary. But this way of being has become such a habit that it takes an intentional choice to let it go. Can I trust the science that the vaccine does actually protect me? Can I trust that even if I do catch the virus it will not kill me? The science says this is true.
As I turned to God in this wondering about my ability to let go and trust, I found myself smiling. How grateful I am for a loving God who understands me in my humanity. I hope God is smiling too as I wrestle with leaning into the grace and gift of all that has been given us in this time. Yes, filled with grief and loss and hardship and injustice. And even in the midst, to the degree we have been able, there have been graces held out to us from a loving God. And there has been Presence in the midst of all the hardship. How else could we find our way through all the loss and pain?
And there were zero Covid-19 patients in San Francisco General Hospital today.
Gratitude runs deeply and hope begins to glimmer in the hardest places.