Date: November 2, 2021
Perhaps it is just me, but I think the continuing half-life under the shadow of the pandemic is exhausting. Things are much better than they were. We are singing in chapel; we are enjoying the Flamingo; and classroom lectures are face-to-face. Grandparents are seeing grandchildren again. And even some travel is happening. But every single time I put on a mask, I sigh. I am tired of it.
If you recognize these feelings, then let us pause together and acknowledge them. Just because things are better doesn’t mean that we cannot be frustrated. And as with all frustration, it is a commonplace and well-documented phenomenon that we find the frustration coming out in other ways – perhaps in irritation with each other or with the news or with a loved one. When this happens, we need to pause and ask God to gently bring that peace “that the world cannot give” to our hearts and minds.
As a Seminary, we are continuing to track closely with the guidance from the CDC and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Things will change, but for now, we need to live in this frustrating place. May God help us all to cope.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and President