Rest for Pandemic Fatigue

The past couple of weeks have made me so tired. Like really tired. Like tired to the depth of my soul tired, the kind of tired that sleep doesn’t alleviate. And then I looked at the Gospel for this Sunday:

“Come to me all who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Well, that’s fitting.

I think what’s happening for me right now is a severe case of pandemic fatigue. My parish is in the midst of big transitions, and the pandemic intensifies the grief I feel with these changes. My religious community is going through some stuff too, and even my house is having problems that make it seem like it’s just falling apart. Coronavirus cases are on the rise here, which is so discouraging, and I miss my family and friends so much. There’s still no real resolution to the racial injustice pervading our communities, and people continue to suffer. Racial trauma must be exhausting. Nothing about this pandemic is any clearer than it was before. Illnesses, social restrictions, and financial losses continue. No wonder I’m tired as hell. I imagine most of us are. And here God is, offering rest for those of us who feel burdened. Pandemic fatigue is a real burden. Each of us may have different struggles and ways of shouldering this burden, but we’re all carrying it. Maybe turning to God can bring some comfort from this burden and restore us.

What makes you feel comforted? This was a question I asked someone in ministry recently, and since then I’ve been reflecting on it myself. I feel comforted when someone really listens to me and responds in ways that let me know they understand me. The other day I told one of my sisters that I was struggling, and she invited me over, listened to me, talked a little hope back into me, and gave me some cake. The listening and hope she offered was like a balm to my soul. And so was the cake. Another time a couple weeks ago I called a sister friend to complain about a simple little task that I just couldn’t pull together, and she gave me a you-can-do-it kind of pep talk that spurred me on to finally write the thing. She has scraped me off the ground more than once during this pandemic, metaphorically of course, and I’m grateful for her comfort and care. Every now and then, God comforts me in prayer, but usually God works through another person. Sometimes I have to ask to be comforted. I’m learning that it’s okay to ask.

I also reflected on what makes me feel rested. Sleep helps, of course, but it doesn’t cure pandemic fatigue. Taking a break from virus headlines and news gives me a little rest. Listening to music, maybe even dancing in my kitchen, lifts my spirit and gives me rest. Being outside, either to walk or to work in the yard, is restorative. Last week I spent a couple of afternoons just lying on the couch reading a novel. I haven’t really done that over this time, and it felt really good. Taking time in the morning for a long, slow prayer brings me rest, and doing the same in the evening is a lot more restful than disappearing into Netflix for the night. I still withdraw into it from time to time, but if I take just a little moment before to check in with myself, I find a little rest for my soul before I sleep.

What about you? What makes you feel comforted? What makes you feel rested? Is there anything about being with God that helps you to feel restored? When you feel soul tired or suffer from pandemic fatigue, what do you need from God? What do you need from other people? And can you ask for what you need?

Something that brings me rest sometimes is to pause and listen to a guided meditation. I thought I’d offer one that comes from my own prayer this week, and I invite you to enter in and pray with me. If nothing else, it might be nice to know we’re praying together during this weird time of separation. Maybe as we pray together we can find comfort and rest in God.

By Sister Leslie Keener