Hello, and peace to you today. This is CH (MAJ) Patty Jenkins with the 63d Readiness Division.
When I was in grade school, our teacher gave us a lesson on air pressure. She gave each of us a plastic drinking straw. Then she asked us to close one end of the straw with a fingertip, and use our mouths to suck out all of the air. You’ve done this, right? You were probably just playing with a straw and enjoying how the sides crumpled as you sucked out the air. Maybe you stuck your tongue in the other end and felt the straw’s edge grip your tongue like a living thing.
Our teacher explained that the reason the straw crumpled is because we changed the air pressure. Once we sucked out all of the air, the pressure on the outside of the straw was able to push the sides together. No air was left on the inside of the straw to keep the sides in place. That the air inside the straw was infinitely less than the air outside the straw, made no difference.
As I grew older, I began to get a sense of the vastness of the universe, as much as one can. How can it be that I exist, and I am not crushed, by the seemingly eternal expanse of the universe? How can my body bear the weight of everything in the universe outside of me? That’s when the air pressure lesson came back to me! My highly-scientific theory, based on a plastic straw in the second grade, is that the vastness of the universe pressing down on me must be matched by the vastness within me. The vast universe does not crush me as long as the vastness within me is in balance.
I am not yet crushed, but I do feel crumpled. I feel less of myself than I usually feel. But what I think is actually happening is good news. I think that I am starting to step out of my Covid bunker. I actually feel less weighed down by all that has happened in the past year. I feel more able to be creative and enjoy things. I am able to begin surveying the damage, and say hello to the crumpled parts.
As much as I want to start fixing things, I know I need to wait. First, I am not yet finished surveying the damage; I know there’s more to see. I also know that some things can’t be fixed, but they can be healed. I believe this may be a time for balms, charms, and poultices. This may be a time for rituals and traditions; a time for sacred words and healing arts. Last night I laid down in my backyard with a blanket under the night sky. (I live in Los Angeles, so I admittedly couldn’t see many stars. But I know they are there!) It felt like a beginning.
As you survey your own personal damage, may you find the charms and beginnings that I know are there for you.
Have a blessed day. Blood and Fire!
Here is the direct email and phone number for anyone requesting support from the 63d RD Chaplain office,
usarmy.usarc.63-rsc.list.chaplain-all-users@mail.mil
650-526-9668