It’s easy to be kind, compassionate, generous, calm when things are going well. From our comfort, we can take a “big picture” perspective on the daily stressors and annoyances—and forgive, tolerate, and accept people’s differences with grace. That is, when things are going smoothly.

But things are not smooth. The far reaching impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be revealed weekly and even daily. It is difficult to comprehend all the harm, confusion, duplicity, and negative impacts that this pandemic is generating. It is upsetting from any perspective you take—medical, financial, PPE, governmental response, infections, deaths, spin-doctors, lost opportunities, privileged versus marginalized, loneliness from isolation……..

But there’s another dangerous trend starting: becoming aggravated.

I see evidence of this trend is occurring in liberal and conservative people. I see occurrences in previously harmonious groups. I see increases in previously compassionate people. No one seems immune to this trend, for even the most optimistic people I know are wearing down—and getting cranky.

COVID-19 may be the great aggravator. Any small annoyance during BP (the lost epoch of “Before Pandemic”) has been magnified and enlarged into a real aggravation these days. Our tolerance of other people’s “enduring idiosyncrasies” is in danger of evaporating. I’m seeing evidence in family units, groups, agencies, and people’s views of each other.

Our attitude about changes (especially ones we didn’t ask for) determines if we adapt or become aggravated. While most of us slip into aggravation on bad days, I’m seeing the amazing ability for congregants to adapt.

This pandemic is horrible, but when I objectively assess our health and vitality at UUFSCC—I am buoyed up spiritually and emotionally. You all are amazing at adapting to what impacts you. Zoom is being used by people who didn’t know they had a camera on the computer two months ago. Our successful stewardship results make me tear-up with gratitude. We are hosting 5 Zoom groups each week just for people to connect, visit, and share stories. Sunday attendance is now counted in computers logged in—and the number keeps climbing each week. We are getting visitors to our virtual Sunday services! We had a virtual Coming of Age ceremony—which has got to be one of the first in UU churches. Adult RE Book study on inherent racism has been well attended. All meetings have become virtual. You are adapting.

My concerns for congregants becoming overly aggravated was wasted worry.
But we’re not done being tested. Some say the pandemic will get worse before better. That may happen, but if we keep adapting—and if we keep our values and principles manifested in our thoughts and actions—we’ll survive and thrive. I don’t see any evidence that UUFSCC is going into “Future Shock” where it is impossible to process rapid changes—and it’s hard to imagine an era of more changes happening in such a short time span.

I worry about a lot of things, but the resilience and ability of UUFSCC to adapt to rapid changes is no longer on my list. We will be negatively impacted. We will be saddened by deaths and illness of people we know. We will continue to build community even if it will be virtual. We will survive.

Can it get any weirder? Yeah, but we’ll adapt to it………. yours in shared virtual ministry…………………..Russ