In the interest of future thinking, we wanted to take a moment to talk about the assignment of Pathways’ April sessions. Although Pathways in-house programming is discontinued through April 5 (and there is a possibility we will need to extend that date), we are still planning on moving ahead with our normal session random assignment process for the month of April. This will allow us to smoothly transition back into regular programming once we feel it is appropriate to re-open the building. As always, session requests need to be made by the 25th of the month (next Wednesday) and the computer will make the random assignments in the early hours of the 26th (next Thursday). Please log into your account by Wednesday the 25th to make your requests if you would like to be considered for April sessions. Should we need to extend our building closure beyond April 5th, we will notify the Pathways community via a specific e-mail and will update our website’s homepage. Assigned sessions falling within any extended closure will be cancelled in our system and reflected in participant accounts. Though we don’t have the answers for when we will resume normal programming, we hope this process gives some clarity on how we will proceed once the time arrives.
Free Live Healing Opportunity:
Master Lin and Spring Forest Qiqong are offering a weekly online healing event beginning Monday, March 23. Click Here for More Info.
Lockdown
Yes there is fear.
Yes there is isolation.
Yes there is panic buying.
Yes there is sickness.
Yes there is even death.
But,
They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise
You can hear the birds again.
They say that after just a few weeks of quiet
The sky is no longer thick with fumes
But blue and grey and clear.
They say that in the streets of Assisi
People are singing to each other
across the empty squares,
keeping their windows open
so that those who are alone
may hear the sounds of family around them.
They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland
Is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.
Today a young woman I know
is busy spreading fliers with her number
through the neighbourhood
So that the elders may have someone to call on.
Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples
are preparing to welcome
and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary
All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting
All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way
All over the world people are waking up to a new reality
To how big we really are.
To how little control we really have.
To what really matters.
To Love.
So we pray and we remember that
Yes there is fear.
But there does not have to be hate.
Yes there is isolation.
But there does not have to be loneliness.
Yes there is panic buying.
But there does not have to be meanness.
Yes there is sickness.
But there does not have to be disease of the soul
Yes there is even death.
But there can always be a rebirth of love.
Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.
Today, breathe.
Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic
The birds are singing again
The sky is clearing,
Spring is coming,
And we are always encompassed by Love.
Open the windows of your soul
And though you may not be able
to touch across the empty square,
Sing.
Fr. Richard Hendrick, OFM
March 13th 2020
Voices of Our Community:
Catherine Duncan, Pathways Board Member
Balance and Ease in a Time of Uncertainty
Please check out this simple, practical guide to finding peace and calm in the midst of our changing times.