Many of us have heard, from the rear seats of the family vehicle, this query, “Are we there yet?” Followed, often, by the equally unhappy question, “How much longer…?”
These, and questions like them, are not so much for the purpose of information-gathering as they are for verbalizing frustration about the seemingly unending trip, and about the forced confinement to the limited space in the back seat. And not only is the space limited but it must be shared with the same very few others for the whole trip. Did I mention boring?
When we are accustomed to having the whole house to move around in, and the whole neighborhood, town, county, etcetera, to explore, the feeling of being “stuck” in the back seat is not a good feeling at all. We are used to having many different people to engage with socially, professionally, and in other ways. Now, having only immediate family available, in a confined space, for an extended length of time can become frustrating.
We love those we are confined with, of course! But still, it’s nice to be able to spend time with all our other friends, and extended families, and the many people we are used to encountering in the course of our regular days, weeks, months. And to be able to do what we want, when we want, where we want.
We have been on the “road trip” of the Corona Virus for a year and a quarter, now! It has been confining! We have been very limited in what we can do, where we can go, who we can be with. It is frustrating! Still, for whatever reason, it has been ours to do. And now we seem to be making headway in the battle to overcome this and expand into the new reality ahead.
This is a time for optimism. It is a time for renewed hope. It is a time for gratitude for the many blessings we’ve had during the trials and tribulations of the pandemic – and for the lessons we have learned. It is a time to remain grounded in the same spiritual practices and principles that have enabled us to navigate these recent troubled waters all along.
Love, empathy, understanding, forgiveness, and acceptance go hand-in-hand with the optimism, hope, and gratitude. Also key to remaining steeped in our spiritual practice is to remain “open at the top” as we say. This includes honoring the paths of others that may differ from our own, remembering that the faiths and beliefs of others are as valid as ours. Compassion and coming from the Christ Consciousness in our dealings and relationships will win the day. As always!
This too (pandemic) shall pass. We are getting close. There is a rebirth taking place and we can flourish in it. We just need to remember that we are divine beings having this human experience, and it is the divine within us that will overcome all seeming obstacles, difficulties, and differences. Let your divine light shine! Let it light the way for yourself and others.
We have come a long way, and it has been a difficult journey. The answer to “Are we there yet?” is “No, not quite.” The answer to “How much longer” is “We’re getting closer every minute.” The answer to the unasked question “How do we proceed in order to emerge from this in the best possible fashion?” is still “Maintain your best spiritual practices.”
Amen. Amin. Aum. And so it is.