We’re Still L’Arche
“The whole entire world is a very narrow bridge and the main thing is to have no fear at all” - Epigram attributed to Hasidic Rabbi Nachman of Breslov
When I think of the Spring of 2020, I can almost see this “very narrow bridge.” Back then, that bridge was the slim margin of error that could let the virus into one of our homes and leave someone sick - maybe even isolated in an ICU, far away from loved ones. We did everything we were told and more, as our homes held very vulnerable people. Masks. Social distancing. Ventilation. We asked core members as well as employees to skip family gatherings, weddings, holidays. Though separated by social distance, we were united in our focus: stay healthy until the vaccines made it to us. Thanks to the commitment of every single person in our community, we remained healthy.
We lived like this for about a year until vaccines were available. Slowly, we began engaging with the world again - in person. Making educated decisions, choosing activities carefully, keeping an eye on the case numbers and new variants. Today, weddings, jobs, ball games, plane rides, and holidays are all back on the table. Is there zero risk? No. But there never was. The very narrow bridge has always been a treacherous journey.
Jim is always excited to dance with the bride!
A few weeks ago, we had our first “outbreak” across the homes after several of us attended the wedding of a beloved community member. Two years ago, this would have been our worst nightmare. But now, it was a manageable challenge thanks to vaccines, antivirals, and improved knowledge about the virus. Our incredible assistant teams in each home quickly pivoted the house routines to include social distancing, masking, ventilation, and testing in an effort to prevent transmission. It was stressful and a little scary as the number of positive cases increased daily for a few days. It took a couple weeks to get through the overlapping isolation timelines, but we are finally back to our normal routines.
Decisions are not easy these days. With our aging, vulnerable population it might make sense for us to prioritize caution: discourage celebrations and vacations, keep assistants behind masks, and opt for virtual activities over in-person. But we stay on the narrow bridge, putting one foot in front of the other, balancing our priorities, knowing that life is short and each day matters.
Community members have enjoyed visiting and holding Maria’s baby son!
The virus has changed the world and yes, it changed us, but L’Arche communities are always evolving and adapting. We were different in 2019 than we were in 2016, and we’re different in 2022 than we were in 2019. But we’re still L’Arche St. Louis, home of Cardinals fans, ham sandwiches, and Ladies’ Night and Man’s Night.
I’m personally looking forward to the non-virtual events we will be hosting later this year - the Ice Cream Social on August 13 and our very first walk-a-thon style “Walk and Roll” event on October 8. These events are not without risk, but they are each another step on the very narrow bridge of the journey that we share together.
