“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” — John 14:1-2

In the Easter season, we often use the metaphor of the caterpillar becoming a colorful butterfly to describe the new life brought forth through Jesus’ resurrection. It is a beautiful image. But perhaps the most miraculous moment of transformation from caterpillar to butterfly is that time in-between; the cocooning season when the body literally becomes mush. It disintegrates, losing all recognizable shape. Everything that defines it as caterpillar is lost. 

But here is the miracle: inside that deathly mush are imaginal cells. These cells hold the vision of what the future holds. When all seems lost, these cells begin the process of moving forward, rebuilding and with the right conditions and a little time, a butterfly will emerge. 

The in-between time can be difficult. When Jesus is giving his disciples his Farewell Address, sort of a long good-bye, the disciples are struggling in the in-between time. They have been with Jesus for three years witnessing miracles, absorbing his teaching, being attentive students along the way. But as Jesus is telling them he will no longer be with them, they are dismayed. “Where are you going? We want to go with you! Tell us the way!” They cannot comprehend the events that will lead to Jesus’ crucifixion. They do not understand how all things will be made new through his resurrection. They are stuck in the in-between. 

I don’t know about you, but I feel kind of like mush right now. Maybe that’s a product of the days when I don’t change out of my sweats and watch too much television. But more likely it is the amount of fear, anxiety and unknowns that surround us in these unprecedented times. We’ve moved past the initial crisis of the pandemic and learned how to respond in the safest ways possible. But now we are into the long haul. The stress continues to mount as we do not know what the future holds. 

St. John’s UCC Faith Community Nurse Vicki Keilhauer has offered our congregation tips on how to best handle the fear and anxieties during the pandemic and I want to share some of them with you: 

Limit the amount of time reading or watching news, websites or social media. Some information is good. Too much can be overwhelming. Always turn to trusted sources of information avoiding stories and posts not scientifically verified. 

Maintain a daily schedule. Stay on the same wake/sleep schedule. Eat healthy meals at set times. Take time to keep moving; walking, running, stretching, yoga, etc. 

Practice mindfulness — the process of inward reflection recognizing how our actions influence our feelings. Acknowledge emotions that you’re feeling and own them. 

Practice compassion — reach out to others you know have struggled with anxieties and lend a non-judgmental ear. This will relieve your anxieties as well as theirs. 

Practice gratitude — at the end of the day, write in a journal the day’s accomplishments and acknowledge your blessings.

Practice spiritual care daily. Set aside time for prayer, meditation, or scripture readings.

As Jesus was consoling his disciples, he wanted them and us to know what is waiting on the other side of the space in-between; a God who has prepared a place of eternal love for each of us, saying, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.”

— Reflections appears regularly on the religion page. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group. Todd Hackman is senior pastor at St. John’s United Church of Christ in Monroe.