Tag: Grief

Living Apart Together…

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Back in March, at the start of the pandemic and the shelter-in-place edict, none of us would have thought that months later we would still be here – social distancing and uncertain about when we would return to life even as we knew it.

As the health crisis unfolded, we instinctively switched to survival mode, resolved to find alternative ways to keep going. Our homes became both a quarantine fortress and our place of work. Companies and organizations quickly changed their daily operations as they tried to adjust. Parents and teachers turned to homeschooling. Many, understandably, struggled to make it through the day; while scores of others selflessly showed up to serve. Incomprehensibly, too many succumbed to the virus and lost their lives.

And, in the midst of the pandemic, our hearts further erupted at the sight of new, unwarranted and continuous killing of our Black brothers and sisters. While the country and even the world came together to cry “enough”, the poisonous effects of such inhuman cruelty – anger, grief, pain, fear, mistrust, despair – have undoubtedly already attached themselves to many a soul.

How are you doing, really?

It may have been months since 2020 took a detour but many of us have yet to come up for air, even less sit still to tend to our souls. We are submerged in a sea of emotions, which is even amplified for those who are living alone, cut off from regular human connection.

“Where do we go from here?” is a question many have asked these past few months. I don’t purport to have the answer; I am, however, certain that any step forward must come from a place of self-awareness and wholeness. Just as we must come to term with the fact that we are all connected and we are more alike than we are different.

With that in mind, I offer this opportunity for us to intentionally slow down to care for our souls and to do life together. Whether you need time in community, a safe space to lament or a moment of rest from your new normal, I propose that we connect during the month of August to engage through guided discussions, contemplative reflections and to recharge for the days ahead.

The list of offerings, for both men and women, and the registration button are below. Please sign-up as you feel led. I look forward to connecting with you, and until then, I pray that you and yours are safe and well!

In His grace,
Christine

“Let him who cannot be alone beware of community.
Let him who is not in community beware of being alone.”
— Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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Living Apart Together
Free Online Soul Care Pauses
Virtually on Zoom [10:00am-11:00am]
Zoom Link will be Emailed Following Registration

Saturday, August 1: Holy Interruption
Saturday, August 15: Soul Care in Times of Crisis
Saturday, August 29: As We Wait…

“It’s better to have a partner than go it alone…And if one falls down, the other helps…(Ecc. 4:9-10 The Message)

Sabatica-BlueDress PicChristine A. Dorvil is Founder and Director of Sabătica. She is a retreat leader and holds a certificate in Spiritual Transformation from the Transforming Center in Chicago where she studied for two years and was mentored by Ruth Haley Barton. Christine is passionate about spiritual formation, restoration and soul care. She holds an MBA in Finance and is pursuing a Masters of Divinity in Old Testament and Hebrew. She is a Fellow of the New York City Leadership Center and serves as Executive Director for the Alliance for Thriving Communities.

 

Standing With Open Hands…

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I laid on the hardwood floor partly praying, mostly surrendering. It had been several months since I had lost my job. I was running out of money and found myself wrestling with the fact that I might need to make certain decisions that left me feeling indignant, embarrassed and feeling like a failure. I laid on the floor after having done all I could; I took a deep breath and opened my hands to God. I was still actively looking for work but that moment, I let it all go – the fear, the shame, even the hope of quickly returning to work. That instant, I gave myself permission to be okay, even if that meant taking a detour; even if I were to lose it all.

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The months of unemployment — my liminal space – served as an incubator for additional character development. During that time, I was reminded of several life-changing truths, including the following:

  • Prayer should come from a place of faith and not of fear – Have your prayers ever sounded like this… “God, I don’t want to face this; please don’t let such and such happen” or “I don’t want to go through that and seem…?” If there is one thing I learned these past few months it is that when our focus is on what we fear the most, our fear becomes our reality. Surrendering requires that we take a stance of faith – in our thoughts, in our prayer, in our actions; for, the fear that consumes us and on which we set our mind will inevitably become true.
  • The experience of loss can be a great litmus test of our faith – A loss may occur on various forms – loss of a job, a house, a relationship, the passing of someone dear — and may generate various degrees of anguish. We may think we know how we would react when faced with such loss or adversity but in reality, we won’t know until we find ourselves in those situations. It is then we will testify of our beliefs and faith. It is in the testing of our knowing that we are awakened to our strengths and to those areas where we are still questioning. It is absolutely normal and important that we should acknowledge our losses and struggles. Yet, just as important, we must be resilient and resolved to grieve them, to push through and to remain anchored to what we know to be true.
  • There is rest in the midst of the storm – That moment on the floor when I consciously decided to relinquish control of the situation, I was overtaken by  a peace that surpassed my understanding. Once again, Abba took on my yoke and my burden became light. And, the days that followed gifted me with a  renewed mind and just as David exclaimed in Psalm 62, I found an inner rest that could have only come from God.

When you face stormy seas, I will be there with you with endurance and calm; you will not be engulfed in raging rivers. If it seems like you’re walking through fire with flames licking at your limbs, keep going; you won’t be burned. Isaiah 43:2 (The Voice)

Is there something in your life for which you need to open your hands? What have you been holding on to that ought to be surrendered? You don’t have to do it alone! There is provision for it all, if only you would open your hands.

In His mercy!
Christine

Nature’s Healing Touch…

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Yesterday was the culmination of a rather heavy week — one marked by disbelief, tears and sadness. There were some moments of relief  through the recounting of sweet memories, communal support and eternal hope; and yet there were a myriad of persistent internal questions. After gathering as a community to bid farewell to a sweet little boy who left us too soon, I felt the warning tug to disconnect  and quiet down. So, I grabbed my camera and headed down to the Bartlett arboretum for some nature therapy. The sun was a bit timid but somehow that was  just perfect as I sought to lose myself on the trails and around the property; staying outside of my head and allowing the birds’ songs, whistling creek, the colors and fragrances to feed my soul. Following are some of those moments that brought me to a halt and which I attempted to capture…

I did stop to smell these babies…so fragrant!
My favorite flowers – Lily of the Valley

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. … There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”
—Rachel Carson, Silent Spring

All photos are taken by Christine Dorvil and cannot be reproduced without permission.