A Reflection from our Vestry
When I think back to early March, when the shelter-in-place was issued and lives were starting to change, I remember being disoriented. In some ways, my own life was better—my kids were both home with us, we were all healthy, and my horrible commute to Rockville had been eliminated. On the other hand, my company was in peril, family and friends were increasingly stressed, and I was struggling to get into a groove. I remember a moment during Tuesday morning Bible study when Jon raised the question, "Where are you between creativity and boredom?" I recall a few individuals chimed in; some were learning new languages, others took up painting, still others were involved in virtual golf lessons. I was in awe that people had time to focus on their hobbies or be creative and take up new ones. I wasn't even close to either of those—I was trying to find my place in this "quarantine-normal." I had spent those first few weeks in March thinking about all the people being directly impacted by the virus, laying off half of my company, preparing for my daughter to be coming home early from her freshman year of college (having really just felt "at home" at school) and having to help my son with his online learning. It looked bleak and rather daunting. I just didn't see any situation where I'd have time to be creative or bored and I felt overwhelmed.
Now more than two months later, the virus is still among us but more than half the folks we laid off have found new jobs. Both kids have settled into some sense of normalcy with their online learning. My wife and I have figured out how to work simultaneously from home without distracting each other from our conference calls. We have dinner together as a family every night, go on way too many walks with the dog, and the kids are now back to climbing into bed with us at night. I think a lot about using this time we have wisely and often put pressure to do "big things" but have come to realize that it's the everyday blessings wedged between the creativity and boredom that are what keep me moving.
As a family we have always joked about how "right-brained" we are. We are computer scientists, mathematicians, biology majors. I would never consider myself to be creative. However, I've been able to spend this time at home learning that there is more to being creative than just actually "creating." I see creativity when I make Tik-Toks with my daughter. I see creativity with the way that we have been able to divide our house up during the workday, and I see creativity when my son uses Minecraft to finish his history project. Reflecting on this time, I have seen creativity in ways I never thought I would. I find that focusing on that, on the little places where we've grown or adapted, we can feel comfort and happiness.
So I’d ask, “where are you between creativity and boredom?”
Jason Crum
