Uncertainty is all around us, never more so than today. The current COVID-19 pandemic has heightened uncertainty over the economy, employment, finances, relationships, and of course, physical and mental health. Yet as human beings, we crave security. We want to feel safe and have a sense of control over our lives and well-being. Fear and uncertainty can leave us feeling stressed, anxious, and powerless over the direction of our life. It can drain us emotionally and trap us in a downward spiral of endless “what-ifs” and worst-case scenarios about what tomorrow may bring. Do you find it at all consoling that even the Blessed Virgin Mary needed to be reminded by the Angel Gabriel “Do not be afraid?”
We’re all different in how much uncertainty we can tolerate in life. Some people seem to enjoy taking risks and living unpredictable lives, while others find the randomness of life deeply distressing. But all of us have a limit. If we feel overwhelmed by uncertainty and worry, it’s important to know that we’re not alone; many of us are in the same boat at this time.
In her article “Surrendering to Uncertainty,” author Heather Lanier concludes her reflections on uncertainty with a series of statements:
Don’t squander this.
Let it make you more tender.
Let it rewrite what matters.
Let it bring you closer to all you love, to all you could lose.
Let it bring you to your knees.
Ms. Lanier writes these lines in reference to caring for her young daughter who was born with special physical needs. Isn’t it true, though, that these statements can also be applied to our experience of this global pandemic?
Don’t squander this: grieving is very real and, if we let it, it can transform us and give us wisdom.
Let it rewrite what matters: each moment we are alive is a monumental gift.
Let it bring us closer to all we love, to all we could lose: remember how important it is to embrace life as it is, instead of how we wish it were.
Let it bring us to our knees: it is humbling to admit that we can control very little; remember though, God is in control of everything.
Let’s be sure to take our time, breathe deeply, and trust that we are all in this together.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/05/surrendering-uncertainty/611446/
