"Do What You Can, and Trust That It's Enough": More Pastoral Words in a Pandemic Time

How do we respond to anxiety and uncertainty in a time of pandemic? Shayna brings wisdom to us, from her experience and knowledge in working as a chaplain with first responders.

Our show pushes back against the unexamined, often unconscious ways that we frame public questions using political or economic modes of thinking. We aim to be part of a growing movement of people who are critical of the narrowness of political and economic categories, and who want to revive a vision of human flourishing that is grounded in the wisdoms of theological and moral philosophical tradition. We see these habits and ways of thinking as being pre-political, and foundational to a healthy and civil shared life in families, communities, economies, and polities.

In short, we want to create a community that is grounded in curiosity, going deep, and shining light.

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Our email: whatingods@ribeye-media.com.

Learn more. Our website: www.whatingods.com.

Here are timecodes to help you navigate through today’s show:

03:10     Encounters: often unexpected, and often leave us changed. What are we encountering, when we encounter this pandemic?  

05:03     Shayna shares that she will be working with a group of people who are first responders in the current public health crisis, but who aren’t trained as first responders: those answering telephones at state agencies. Shayna gives a shout out to all on the front line: janitors, grocery store workers, cafeteria workers.

07:52     What is our experience of powerlessness like? In what ways are we not powerless? What is the difference between a post-traumatic stress disorder, and a post-traumatic stress response?

12:30     What is the difference between anxiety and fear? “Do what you can, and trust that it’s enough.” What is the healthy wisdom in that adage?

18:30     How does the experience of making music together relate to generosity? How is music a religious experience? What do we encounter, when we meet music?