Quarantine Chronicles VI: New Communities
When Markita asked me to write about my experience in 2020 I was pretty sure I was going to write a long, drawn out self-pity post about how incredibly awful this year has been. I mean, we have been dealt some pretty trash cards. The list of things that have gone wrong in my life this year is extensive. BUT, I am not going to do that, if only for my mental health…
Let’s start with the big jawn, COVID-19. In January and February, I could have never imagined life would shift so substantially and as quickly as it did when the virus started to pick up steam. It completely upended every plan I had for this year. My last semester of college ended abruptly, my graduation was cancelled, my summer internship became entirely remote at the last minute, and my first semester of law school looks different than I ever would have imagined.
People are dying.
BLACK people are dying at disproportionate rates not only from COVID but also at the hands of racist Americans. There was a point in the summer that I truly wanted to just crawl in a hole and wait for it to be over. BUT GOD. In the midst of all of this, what has gotten me through was intentionally putting myself in a position to hear from and spend time with God. That has allowed me to exist in this messed up world, and still be ok.
Since we have been relegated to being home, I have had to purposely put myself in like three bible studies a week. I’m finding different groups that are doing bible studies or fellowship times – well sort of like prayer meeting – because I’ve found it really hard to do on my own with school. These groups hold me accountable. Trying to do it on my own really wasn’t working. I have found that if you purposely put yourself in groups, in different communities that hold you accountable to spending more time with God and praying collectively it’s a lot easier to be consistent and intentional about your relationship with Jesus.
I have inserted myself into communities that are not where I am. I am involved in communities with people I have never met before in person and it’s really been great to kind of have accountability in that way in quarantine because you’re all by yourself.
With God comes joy, peace, optimism, positive attitudes, and love. These are things that, although are in short supply these day, I have found an abundance of. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 says, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed”. This has never rung more true in my life than it does right now. 2020 is working REAL hard, but my God works harder. Period.
And I am glad that I have my communities to help me move through.
-Dara
Dara is a creator from the northeast. She is a dancer, choreographer, artistic director, teacher, and law student. She is young woman with a gift for helping people find their space in the world and uses her unique perspective to push people’s thinking, challenging them to grow.
