Liminal Time
Pandemic is now a new word that many of us have added to our daily vocabulary. I don't believe I had ever really used the term until recently.
Please allow me to introduce what is perhaps another new word that you may find helpful in these unprecedented times. The word is liminal. In case you were not aware, we are now living in liminal time. The word liminal comes from the Latin word limens, which means "limit or threshold." Author and theologian Richard Rohr defines liminal time in this way: "It is when you have left, or are about to leave, the tried and true, but have not yet been able to replace it with anything else. It is when you are between your old comfort zone and any possible new answer. If you are not trained in how to hold anxiety, how to live with ambiguity, how to entrust and wait, you will run...anything to flee this terrible cloud of unknowing." He goes on to say that ancient cultures referred to liminal space as "crazy time," because it is like nothing we have ever experienced before. Think of it as that space, that time, when a flying acrobat has let go of one swinging trapeze and is in mid-air, anxiously seeking the grasp of another who is swinging their way.
Each of us has most likely experienced a liminal time at some point in our lives. Liminal times can come into our lives as planned or unplanned. These are times when life is forever different - when life is divided between before and after the event. They include, but are certainly not limited to, the following: the loss of a loved one, the birth of a child, the loss of a job, retirement, moving, a health diagnosis/crisis, the beginning or end of a significant relationship, graduations, and military service.
What is unique about the current pandemic is that it is a liminal time that literally the entire world is going through together, all at the same time. Of course, some individuals are much more affected by Covid-19 than others, but everyone is affected in some way. I can not think of a time in my life where billions of people all around the globe have faced the same challenge at the same time.
Research on resilience has shown that there are two essential factors that people need when they find themselves living in a liminal time: spirituality and community. These two factors will provide direction and support in the midst of this vulnerable, "crazy" time.
Spirituality is what defines "true north" for us all the time, but especially in times of change. It is what defines and grounds our core values and beliefs, and for many, but not all, is connected to religious faith. Spirituality is what inspires people to risk their own health at a time like this, to show up and support others—whether as health care workers, first responders, or grocery store workers. Spirituality is what helps people to choose love over fear. Spirituality is what gives us a bedrock of meaning, purpose, and hope, when so much around us is changing.
Community is our network of friends and family, the people we can turn to when we need support. This is a challenge in the face of our need to "socially distance" ourselves for the greater good. But because the need to connect is so strong and so universal, we have seen the creative ways people are finding to connect in the midst of this pandemic. People singing on their balconies at night in Italy, faith communities offering online prayer services, neighbors gathering to greet one another across their streets, people volunteering to grocery shop for their at-risk neighbors, musicians offering free online concerts, and grandparents, aunts, and uncles reading bedtime stories and playing games with young family members via Zoom. I'm sure there are other stories each of you could add of the creative ways that people are finding to be both separated and connected at the same time. The resilience of the human spirit is formidable.
I close with one simple, anonymous act of kindness from a member of my community, one that my wife and I were blessed by today. Even though it was a rainy day, my wife and I went out for a long walk late this afternoon. Part of our walk took us to a paved bike trail near our home. Along the side of the bike trail, we noticed a small green dinosaur-like figure with a sign taped on its front. As we got closer, we could see that the sign, created by someone who we will never know, said simply, "Breathe," along with a heart, the universal symbol for love. (See image below).
That sign expresses my hope and prayer right now for all of us. May we all find a way to breathe in (and out) a little more love at this time.
The light of love shines in this liminal time of darkness, and the darkness will not overcome it.
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