In seminary, I used a “character contract” one semester (I attended Denver Seminary and as a part of our individualized learning we worked on one character contract and one ministry skills contract per semester) to commit some Bible verses to memory. One of them was 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray continuously, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Give thanks in ALL circumstances.
As I’ve written about before, I teach math Monday through Friday at a therapeutic high school. Our school is currently on a hybrid plan of two cohorts — a mix of online and in-person learning. Almost all of us are aware that online learning has had many shortfalls. Especially in the spring, when my school, like so many others, went straight from in-person learning one Friday in March to online learning the next Monday, there were many failures. Many of us – teachers, administrators, students and parents alike – had trouble being thankful in this circumstance.
However, I recently saw a Facebook post by a friend that shared her gratitude for online learning. No, not everything was perfect, she remarked, but she could be grateful that mother and daughter could sneak in some episodes of their favorite tv show on her breaks and for daddy-daughter lunches. As I read this post, I rejoiced in a positive reflection about online learning for once! In the past week, I have read some other thankful stories: parents hearing their child’s laughter from the other room as their child participated in class and the fun of sharing pets, plants and fun room decorations during academic classes.
If you nerd out and look at the Greek, the author’s words are “in everything, give thanks.” By no means are we meant to give thanks for everything. I have heard people say that they are grateful for the pandemic. What!? I’m not grateful for a global disease, people getting sick and dying. I’m not grateful for spending time apart. I’m not grateful for the inability to gather. As a single person, I’m not even really grateful for more alone time (I had plenty of that before). But… I can be grateful in this pandemic. I can be grateful for my growing appreciation of nature and the beauty all around me, while I spend time apart from those I love. I can be grateful for technology that keeps me connected to my students and congregants, and I can rejoice that the Holy Spirit still seems to be able to bring us together when we are far apart. And I can be grateful for the presence of the Divine — the reminder and encouragement that even when I am physically alone, God is with me (Emmanuel).
I’m not grateful when I hear that this pandemic may last into 2021. As I realize that means more sickness, more death and more separation for all of us, lament and even premature grief arise within me. Gratitude is not a simple emotion; it takes precision, care, practice, even time. Perhaps this is the reason it has taken all of us – parents, students, teachers, administrators and all those impacted by school going online (at least partially) – some effort to respond with gratitude. I am also encouraged that Scripture does not tell us to immediately rejoice and give thanks when faced with a difficult or traumatic event. In fact, I’m not even sure it is truly gratitude if we rush our response to give thanks when everything seems messed up and wrong. In those times, the most faithful response may be tears, anguish and even some extra space and grace.
This week, I am grateful for those messages of hope and triumph that I read about online learning experiences. I am grateful for those small moments of fun, laughter and grace. Being grateful for tragedy is artificial, but we are called as Christians to be grateful even in tragedy. Well, here we are, still in the midst of a global pandemic, a certain and irreparable tragedy. Let us not rush to false gratitude or thankfulness, but let us accept the challenge to take the time to reflect and share stories of God’s grace and hope, and express gratitude in this circumstance today and in the weeks and months to come.
JULIE RAFFETY serves as the pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Franklin, New Jersey. Julie is a violinist, aspiring writer, snowboarder, runner, identical twin and crazy about popcorn.
