Music of the Spheres
Music is a vital part of spiritual expression. Spiritual song, psalms, praise, lament - we have templates in our sacred text, and as creative humans, we constantly invent new sounds to use for spiritual and emotional expression. I have been surrounded by music my entire life, and I confess one of the hardest pieces of COVID safety for me is the fact that singing is a high-risk activity. All my instruments involve breathing deeply - voice, bagpipes, clarinet, oboe, English horn, recorder. Each of my instruments produces extra aerosols, and aerosols increase risk of spreading COVID.
Now, I can infer from the continued good health of loved ones around me that I do not have the virus. I can go through the health assessment checklist for in-person gatherings and apply sound logic to each question:
Have I knowingly been in close contact with anyone who has tested positive? - not knowingly, no.
Have I tested positive for COVID in the past two weeks? - I have not been tested, so if course I have not tested positive
Am I currently experiencing any possible COVID symptoms? - I have chills when I stay in the direct AC stream too long, I have a hard time breathing when I'm taking a walk in the oppressively humid air, I have allergies which subject me to coughing, sneezing, runny nose, but, no, I'm not experiencing COVID symptoms
But just because I can use those listed rationalizations in my health assessment answers does not mean that I am at zero risk of spreading the disease.
This pandemic experience has reinforced for me how connected we are with each other. We each have the power to lift another person up, to affirm someone's needs, or the power to push another person aside, force someone else to make accommodation for our own existence. When we make another person sacrifice for our own comfort, we are not living out Christ's message. I have the power to give up a practice that I find comforting - group singing and music making - in order that people might be safer around me.
This is why I ask you to send in or bring a wind chime to SUPC. We will hang these under the pavilion and let God's breath provide the music for our worship gathering. Folks worshiping safer at home may also set up a wind chime to capture a similar feeling. I hope anyone who is staying home also chooses to send in a chime as well as keeping one home. These chimes will be our voices while we gather outside for worship.
I love you all
Stay Safe and Healthy
Wash Your Hands
Peace be with you
~Rev. Andrea Joy Holroyd
