"Power" | Reflection by Daniel Robles (Vestry Class of 2023)

I have never felt so helpless, and powerless, as I have during the current pandemic. To say, "it's just a disruption" was an understatement. I couldn't go to work. I couldn't eat out. I couldn't be around family and friends. I couldn't travel. I couldn't even attend a funeral. I couldn't go to church. I couldn't get sick, or have a much needed surgery. I couldn't walk about freely anymore. Coronavirus brought virtually the entire world to a stand still.

Then, I remembered the words of Phillipians 4:13: "I can do all things in Christ who stengthens me." I can even face my own ultimate mortality, if I had to, albeit in a cognitive context. Again quoting Phillipians, "For to me, to live is Christ; and to die is gain." Coronavirus made me consider, "what if, I contracted the virus?" So, I began reflecting on the things I did have power over.

In his book Siddartha by Harmen Hesse, the main character was in search of enlightenment from the absurdity, and toil of this world. Among other things, he concluded, “I can think. I can wait. I can fast.” I pondered that for a while. I can choose my thoughts about my circumstances. It became clear that the difference between a good day, and a bad day was my attitude. I learned patience through waiting day after day, week after week, and even month after month. I knew that nothing lasts forever, and that the only constant in life is change. Like Siddartha, I learned to control my appetites, not only for food, but my wants, my needs, my tolerances. The pandemic forced me to come out of my comfort zone, and realize the things that matter most, like the communities sustained, and created through social media, zoom, technology, solidarity, and science. I am grateful for the power that I learned that I can, indeed, "do all things in Christ who strengthens me," even in a pandemic.

Photo: Daniel in the Lion’s Den (ca. 1614-16), Peter Paul Rubens

Words in the Wilderness - Walk through the season of Lent with Trinity, one word at a time. Every day (except on Sundays) we will post a photo and a brief refection written by someone in our Trinity community. https://www.trinitynewhaven.org/words-in-the-wilderness