A Monthly Newsletter

It's week two of school in Zoomland. Every evening I experience a schizophrenic moment - seeing all these familiar faces and having got used to the school rhythm, I want to go to the dorm after the class and then have dinner in the caf and later hit the library or watch a movie with my classmates. But instead, I find myself walking home from my church office, and I can't help but have this surprised look on my face. Something's wrong here, my two worlds are clashing in an odd way.

But the classes are good and Zoom is slightly less exhausting than I feared. And there is always an opportunity of sending private messages on Zoom which, on the one hand, distracts but, on the other hand, adds some spice to the class. I just pray the private messages don't show on the host's screen! If they do, oh man, this is the end of me.

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Life is slowly returning to its normal rhythms and habits. The restaurants are open again - I know because I had my birthday lunch with dad and K. in my favourite place and it felt like a revenge for all these times I've been turned down on the door because the place was full of tourists. Now it was almost empty and all the clients were locals. It's actually a welcomed change. Gyms are also open - I know because I've just come from one. There was a big smile on my face while running on treadmill although it took me considerably longer than usual to get my 6K done. The pool is still closed but that's ok, they'll open it one day, too. Friends are again within my reach - I know because I've sat in a sauna (and have listened to all the gossip I've missed) and have baked a chocolate cake with some of them. Even churches are open again - I know because this last Saturday, I didn't watch an online service from my couch but went to my home church. It was just a little group that gathered but it was church nevertheless! And a potluck!

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There's one thing I wanted to share. During the national emergency, an extra church service was added to the program of our National Broadcast. And toward the end of the emergency, our church's turn came to have this service. It so happened that our service was to be aired on Mother's Day Sunday. And in the beginning, I tried to convince I. (with whom I was asked to conduct the service) that the Mother's Day wasn't that important and we could pick any other topic. But then a clear signal came from the tv guys about the Mother's Day being very important, and my heart just sank. Suddenly I didn't want to be a part of it. Actually, I had a message written on my phone, telling I. he should find someone else to do this service with beacuse I wasn't up for it. I stared at that message for a while and then deleted it without sending it. I took a couple of deep breaths and decided I could do it.

And I told whoever was on the other side of the camera lens and tv screen about my experience. How I try and stay away from the social media on MD so that I wouldn't have to think about the meaning of this day. I don't have Mother's Day any more. And I never will. But if there is any truth to Romans' 8th chapter, the love of Christ is always with me, no matter what.

In a way, what followed didn't surprise me. So many thank you messages from people to whom the Mother's Day is not about flowers and family breakfasts but about deep pain. And I recognise God's handwriting in it. It's exactly where my clay pot is most broken that His glory shines through the brightest.

We were also crucified, of course, me and I., by some lovely church members. Because the service was aired on a SUNDAY morning. Fallen, fallen is the great Babylon, and together with it also I. and M.! But that comes with a package, I guess. *sigh*

Here is the service. Sorry for not providing subtitles!