Ner Shalom COVID Psalms 2021
The Ner Shalom COVID Psalms were compiled in March 2021 from 6-word stories submitted by these 43 psalmists: Stacie Roberts Allen, Vicki Allen, Robin Birdfeather, Laura Blatt, Fran Block, Abby Lynn Bogomolny, Leiah Rubin Bowden, Julie Chasen, Anna Fargo-Gordon, Kate Feibusch, Barkat Rose Schear Ferar, Rachel Summer Claire Friedman, Judith Goleman, Rhonda Goodman, Annemarie Goslow-Zwicker, Amy Levinson Gray, Jane Herman, Jenny Holland, Irwin Keller, Elaine Leeder, Susan B. Levine, Barbara Lesch McCaffry, Mark Miller, Susie Stonefield Miller, Karen Mitchell, Kathy Mkc, Anna Mollow, Cyndi Norwitz, Chaia Pritchett, Rita Rowan, Terry Rowan, Amy Schiff, Benji Shiell, Ellen Maremont Silver, Dafna Simon, Atzilah Solot, Sondra Solovay, Roberta Teller, Judy Tomsky, Ani Weaver, Melissa Willaby, Joanne Witt, & Emilia Zwicker.
Ner Shalom COVID Psalm 1
A psalm of bewilderment.
The world suddenly looked menacing.
Major upheavals. Both personal and worldwide.
Felt scared, sad. Waited. Wept. Wrote.
Closed my eyes and went inside.
Struggling to avoid the gaping vortex
Too dizzy to self-improve.
Rapid change, but everything stands still.
A year already? I lost track.
Getting comfortable with the not knowing.
Embracing uncertainty, again and again and...
Try again, try again, try mindfully
Ner Shalom COVID Psalm 2
A psalm of lament.
Zoom: close but far, missing touch
Two dimensions plus time, missing touch
Kaleidoscope dreams: plastic gloves, grandkids’ hands.
When does a risk become reckless?
When hugging my child is dangerous –
365 days without hugs from sons –
Missing hugs from family and friends
Too far, too close, too long.
America revealed who we really are.
Access doable! (When everyone needs it.)
Maskwearing: From ridiculed disability to praiseworthy.
Drama, tension, chaos, loss, community, hope.
My list of losses feels endless
Life-force relaxing its powerful grip
Stunning voice silenced leaving us grieving
On Zoom you attend every funeral.
Ner Shalom COVID Psalm 3
A psalm of coping.
These boots are made for walking
Time is shapeless. Grateful for shelter.
Being still; in reflection and community.
Love & dislike relationship with social media
Pandemic relocation; neither here nor there.
Reflection, family connections, back to basics
Introverts rejoice! Anxiety lessened. Home organizing.
Deepening relationships, so much technology, yikes!
Even extroverts can get zoomed out.
Believing: better breathing beyond bully bunglings
Sadness, yet friendships zoom. Hoping, yes.
Recovering my sacred timelessness and stillness.
Intentions shattered on rocks of Presence.
Rediscovering my nine-year old self.
Lifted up and out of time.
Ner Shalom COVID Psalm 4
A psalm of gratitude.
Peaceful solitude, no! rats! awaken gratitude!
Timeless space, cozy, zoom work less stress
Lovely new job, so many blessings.
Calm, centered, content – teaching, biking, swimming
Extreme family bonding. Didn’t hate it.
More still, relationship surprises, enjoyed some.
Facebook world helped find my soulmate!
Body didn’t match soul. Started transition
Love affair with myself
I value what living truly means
Endings, beginnings, hidden treasures, what’s next?
You just never know, do you?