Page 2 - MidWeek - June 9, 2021

2 MIDWEEK JUNE 9, 2021
Life Rises Anew
“But this is not the story of a life. It is the story of lives, knit together,
overlapping in succession, rising again from grave after grave.”
O— from Rising by Wendell Berry
WThe Silent Alarm
n a rainy day early this year, a few fel- low members from
hile the focus rightfully remains on how many people choose to get (or not get) the vaccina- tion, there is another silent, yet vital, initiative
the Lutheran Church of Ho- nolulu gathered to plant seeds for our new church garden. That same day, I received a call from my mother telling me that her mother, my last surviving grandparent, had taken a fall and was not ex- pected to recover.
side it. My grandma was an avid gardener, and in the garage were her gardening tools. I chose to keep her gardening gloves.
at play as the battle continues against the coronavirus. It’s often not visible, but it’s there, much like the viral particles themselves.
I’m talking about mental health. Six months ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that 44% of Americans were in the throes of depression or anxiety. Parents report pressing concerns like the loss of regular child care, insurance uncertainty, food availability issues, and the possibility of housing problems before the rent eviction moratorium ends. Where do you go if you can’t pay your rent and a landlord’s patience runs out? There is no shame, no stigma in reaching out. It’s OK to admit that you’re simply not OK. Access mental health help or share your story with a trusted friend, elder or family member. You’re not alone; this has been tough on everybody. Mental health professionals are exceedingly busy, but you can go to bit.ly/3yGjJdN for a quick Mental Health America online mental health screening.
Like others, I had not trav- eled home to see my family since the pandemic began. But I decided to make an exception and flew home to Bryan, Ohio, that night. My mother and her siblings had chosen to bring Grand- ma from the hospital to her apartment to die. I arrived at the apartment on Tuesday; Grandma died on Thursday. Those few days with her and my mother will remain infinitely close to my heart.
The author has learned that, like plants, life can blossom after the rain.
Death does not have the final word. The seeds that we planted on that day in Janu- ary with my church group, the day of my grandmother’s fall, have now blossomed. I tend the plants with hands clothed in my grandmother’s gloves. I know she is with me. Life rises anew.
Young adults, teens and even young children report anxi- ety, eating disorders, PTSD or even worse feelings. We must promote mental health help available locally so people can better deal with these very real issues today and into next year. When we need help, we must open up and ask for it — and that takes strength.
They were expansive mo- ments, eternal time. I wit- nessed my mother, whose career has been as a nurse, care for her mother. I helped
my mother and my sister wash her, change her clothes, sing and talk to her, and rub ointment on her sore knees. I held Grandma’s hand as she labored between worlds. I noticed how dying and being born are similar journeys and how dependent we are on one another to make these transi- tions. It was a sacred honor to participate.
KELLEY
After her death, we started the difficult task of cleaning out her apartment, having to choose what to keep and what to donate or throw away. Everything there was marked with her presence, her preferences and tastes. A book that I had recently sent her sat beside her rocker, a tea- stained coaster resting be-
Brianna Lloyd currently serves as vicar at Lutheran Church of Honolulu. She also periodically works as an on-call chaplain with Pacific Health Ministry.
Chasing The Light is pro- duced by Lynne Johnson and Robin Stephens Rohr.
One-third of all COVID-19 survivors have “long COVID” — suffering six months beyond the onset of their symptoms. More than 11 million Americans today still have headaches, body aches, nausea, loss of taste and/or smell, dizziness, lung damage, lethargy and brain fog, and the pa- rade of horribles goes on and on. Acute physical maladies often precede mental duress. Now is the time to seek help, before a defeatist mindset sinks in.
New Century Schoolbook bold (scaled H 73.6)
“Howzit?” goes from being seen as just a casual greeting when you really care and want to help others. An executive I know recently commented on a well-attended Zoom call that he didn’t like what he “had become” due to the daily toll of the pandemic. He was short with both co-workers and family, so he bravely told us that he got help. He saw despair, acted upon it and is now in a much better place mentally.
That’s a great start. So, how’s your mental health? Get ahead by helping your head.
Think about it ...
CHASING THE LIGHT
with Brianna Lloyd
john@thinkaboutithawaii.com