Stop right now. Put your hand on your heart and take a breath.
What a time we are in. There is so much free-floating anxiety and fear. Trust in institutions is shattered. It is not only the political climate. There is the fear of out-of-control climate change and the coronavirus. Truth itself is questioned. 
We feel it in traffic and on social media. Many of us are experiencing it in our personal relationships — hair-trigger anger instead of thoughtfulness.
The ways of politeness and kindness we have nourished in ourselves and taught our children have given way to saying whatever you think without a filter. How has this become acceptable?
I do not have answers right now.
But one thing I do know is that each week, no matter what, we must rest from the chaos and despair. We must take a breath. A days-long breath.
In Jewish tradition, that is Shabbat. Even if you are not Jewish, the profound spiritual principle of honoring the holiness of time is something to deeply consider. It is healing. It is essential.
My Apple watch has an app that tells me to breathe. I ignore it more often than I like to admit.
But I know that I dare not ignore Shabbat/Sabbath. One day a week to breathe. To get off of social media, read and be with friends. To go to the beach and to be grateful for the world that is given, not the world that I spend all week trying to create and manage.
This beautiful poem by Lynn Ungar, a Unitarian minister, contains sage advice:
Breathe
Breathe, said the wind.
How can I breathe at a time like this,
when the air is full of the smoke
of burning tires, burning lives?
Just breathe, the wind insisted.
Easy for you to say, if the weight of
injustice is not wrapped around your throat,
cutting off all air.
I need you to breathe.
I need you to breathe.
Don’t tell me to be calm
when there are so many reasons
to be angry, so much cause for despair!
I didn’t say to be calm, said the wind,
I said to breathe.
We’re going to need a lot of air
to make this hurricane together.
Lynn Ungar’s book of poetry, Bread and Other Miracles, is available through her website, or through Amazon.
Again — Stop right now. Put your hand on your heart and take a breath.
I wish you many blessings.
Rabbi Jill
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Your beautiful words always help center me. Shabbat Shalom Rabbi Jill! You are fierce on Twitter! I admire your courage.
Thank you so much dear Shari. I so appreciate your support. Thank you for all YOU do! XO
Your introduction sets the stage well for the poem.
Isn’t it a beautiful poem?
I started following you on Twitter a few years ago. Your words are calming and beautiful! Thanks so much for your inspiration as it helps me have faith that there’s a way out of this chaos in DC.
Thank you carol!
Thank you for these words, Rabbi. Shabbat Shalom to you too.
Jill, I love that poem, especially in these times, and the call to rest, if even for a moment. Thank you for all you do.