For a long while, she sat in vibrant paralysis, her purse in her lap.~Yoon Choi (From Skinship)

"It's sort of an emotional inflammation," said Dr. Mark Batterson, lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC. Dr. Batterson was describing our society now. Having walked two years on the road of the COVID crisis, the world now finds itself moving through a doorway to war. We are "inflamed" as a culture--that location where we can feel helpless, powerless, angry, sad, depressed. In pain. Not knowing what we can do to move forward. Paralyzed.

Over the last two weeks, I've had a sore, tender back. Inflammation. I've hated it, honestly. I've fought the pain by attempting to keep going at my usual pace, but it's only made the discomfort worse. I finally gave in and listened to my body. I slowed my pace. Rested. Allowed myself space. Breathed deeply. Prayed.

Perhaps that's what we do now to decrease the emotional swelling.

Sometimes I feel like that woman holding her purse. Numb. Dissociated. So stuck I can't move in any direction. The loosening is activated by a deep breath, allowing the brain to get an air supply so clarity returns. It's drinking a cool glass of water, transcending dehydration. It can be returning to music that soothes, or holding a drowsing cat. Is there anything more calming than a cat's low, rumbling purr? Opening the Bible to the Psalms. Come with your might and strength, for we need you, Lord. (Psalm 108:6, TPT). A gentle walk, stopping to admire the turtles lined up on the banks of the pond. "Oh, to be like those beautiful creatures, bright green reptilian heads released from their shells, absorbing the sun's warmth," I whisper. Receiving, resting. When I'm still, I can heal more quickly, the soreness has a chance to diminish. Lucidity comes. I am not helpless. I am not powerless. I spend time with my loved ones. We pray for Ukraine, for world leaders. We appeal to God for discernment. He so loves to hear our voices, so desires to impart wisdom. We are not vibrantly paralyzed, nor emotionally inflamed. With God's help we prevail with might and power.