How mind boggling (and prescient) that the Soul Matters theme of the month for April is Liberation. As we remain confined at home, seemingly not free to decide where to spend our days and nights. Losing freedoms we don’t usually even notice. (Are you feeling my grumpiness?)

A wiser voice reflects: How privileged I am, we are, to be grumpy about not being able to go to the library or coffee shop. The virus is spreading suffering. Healthcare workers, first responders, grocery clerks all in harm’s way. Palpable grumpiness arises from compliance to the rule of law in service to the common good, beloved community, connections we cherish. Vital spiritual energy waits in grumpiness.

How do we liberate that energy? How do we set it – and us – free?

What does liberation mean to you?

To me, liberation and freedom are siblings from different languages. Freedom feels natural, established, accessible. As Americans we have freedoms we take for granted. Whereas liberation feels sacred, life changing: Liberation from bondage. The ancient Hebrews escaping from slavery in Egypt (celebrated during Passover this month). Escape from human trafficking. Release from child detention centers on the border. Personally, we liberate ourselves from abusive cultural conventions, from our own fears, bad habits, beliefs and stories. These are all liberation from.

What are we liberated to do or become during this time of physical distancing, as we freely comply for everyone’s sake? Liberated to be, to become; liberated to do, to learn. Perhaps we needed freedom from the old routines and assumptions to embrace becoming, learning.

May we engage questions and experiences of liberation this month in our on-line Sunday Zoom services and weekly Wednesday evening Zoom Check-in’s with Poetry. May we breathe together in gratitude for sharing this time, this congregation. Allowing ourselves to be guided by love, in all its guises, calling us to be and do what only each one of us can do, and to discover what we may be and do together.