March 3, 2021: THE IDES OF MARCH

In High School, we read Julius Cesar, and I had one line: “Beware the Ides of March.”

I was the soothsayer. I had to put all my acting skills into those five words.

Had someone told us, one year ago, that we’d be virtually imprisoned in our homes, separated from our loved ones, fearful of an invisible virus, having to take extreme measures to go out in public, and witnessing the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans, the sickening of millions, the unemployment and displacement and despair that come with such an epidemic, all while going through a brutal and barbaric political campaign and election cycle, we couldn’t have imagined it, but my guess is that most of us would have imagined it with sheer horror.

I don’t mean to imply that the pandemic has been easy in any way — far from it — there have been many losses and tragedies for us all, but we have survived. I believe our connections and our commitments have grown stronger and more caring, even as most of us have only seen one another on screens.

The last time I spoke at GNUUC was March 15th, 2020. When I left that day, I left all of my sermon notes, my books, my files, and a good deal of my clothes in Nashville. I could have come back for a day or two, but I haven’t. The thought of being there and not seeing you was too depressing, and I’ve been vigilant about staying well until I could get immunized. I got my first injection yesterday, as Kentucky opened the 1C category! My second will be April 1st. I know that doesn’t mean we will all be back to normal, but it feels like the beginning of the end, or the end of the beginning, and I look forward to seeing you again.

I’ve started a conversation with the Board and leadership about moving in the direction of retirement later this year. It’s been a very difficult decision for me, mainly because I love GNUUC so much. But my health and family really leave no options. The Board and I will keep you well informed as our discussions progress.

This year, the Ides of March will be on a Monday. We will be in the second day of Daylight Saving Time, my very favorite time. Here in central KY, it’s light until almost 10PM in June.

This year, I don’t want to be the soothsayer! I hope we don’t have to beware the ides of March, or April, or May. We all deserve a break.

With Love,

Cynthia