more changes

zr. Seraphim joined the community here when life in her own monastic community became too rigorous for her to be able to participate actively. she chose to come here to join in the excitement and life here instead of moving to the quiet of a retirement/nursing home. she has helped with various tasks, has spent lots of time talking with people and bringing cheer to others and has participated actively in the decisions and spiritual life of the community.

but in the last year her desire to be an active participant in the community surrounded by much life and excitement has become more and more difficult. her body is growing old. walking is difficult, more so because of the uneven streets and haphazard traffic around us. caring for her own needs has become more and more challenging. being able to participate in conversations and decisions becomes more difficult as her hearing gets worse and she is not able to take in and process as much as she used to. we help out as we can: bringing meals, doing dishes, running errands, walking with her to and from her apartment (next door to the community), speaking louder and giving her space when things are overwhelming. but it has become too much for us to do well - and we can never give her the kind of help, attention, companionship, and even freedom that she would get in the retirement home. and so the move to the retirement home that she postponed twenty years ago is now upon her.

and as her body is betraying her and she is losing the ability to participate as she used to in the life around her - and to love and be loved by so many different people here, it causes her great sadness. it is hard not to focus on what is being lost without being able to see the good in what is next and what adventures and friendships might yet still be. so pray that the move that happens today goes well, that we might know how to encourage each other, and that we all might know best how to accept the changes and have courage to participate in life around us.