(Un)Mute Yourself, Day 17

II Kings 2:17 | “But they persisted [in this zoom invitation] until he was too embarrassed to refuse.”

The Rev. Tamika Jancewicz is the Associate Pastor at First Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ellicott City, Maryland. And she is the co-founder and co-host of For Collard Girls, which is a journey, a conversation, and podcast, that shares the unique, bold, and beautiful narrative of BIPOC women who are in spaces in the church, in the community, and in the world. For Collard Girls are writers, activists. creatives, and religious leaders. Tamika is also the mother of her two amazing, creative children, Nya (13) and Arion (11), who teach her every day how to be authentically human and graciously loving.

It was clear that the prophet, Elisha, was devastated. He had just lost his mentor and predecessor, Elijah. Elijah doesn’t die, he just gets swept up on a chariot into the heavens (2 Kings 2:11). So, Elisha tore his clothes to express his lament. He’s inconsolable.

In fact, Elisha didn’t want to let go.

Elijah kept saying to him, “I’m about to leave, let me go here,” and Elisha kept saying, “No thanks…I’m not leaving your side.”

And if that wasn’t hard enough, a group of prophets just show up continuing to remind Elisha that Elijah is about to leave him. And he keeps trying to tell them to stop talking about it — he wants to stay in denial for a little longer.

It was a lot.

I think we can relate to Elisha in the year of our Lord 2020.

We’ve been through a lot.

One thing after another we’ve had to let go of. One thing of another we’ve had to leave behind or put on pause.

It’s been a lot.

It’s still a lot.

After Elisha cries out to G-d, and publicly laments after this unbelievable heartbreaking moment, he attempts to let it go.

Elijah’s coat falls while he’s getting swept up, and now he has it and all he probably wants to do is mourn in peace.

But you know who can’t let it go? Those random prophets who have been constantly reminding Elisha of the painful thing he was about to experience.

They keep insisting that he allow 50 men to go look for Elijah.

“Maybe he was dropped off somewhere.”

Elisha can’t mourn in peace. He can’t fully let it go. And because they won’t let up, he gives in.

Again, this seems quite relatable in #2020.

So many things were taken away. Not dead necessarily, but gone for the time being.

And it seems instead of having the space to mourn — to truly let go of some things — doesn’t it seem like we’ve just taken on more? We started searching for ways to keep doing all of the things. Maybe they looked different, but we did them. Especially on the Zoom.

Of course, for many of us, that is how we survive and cope. That is how we stay connected and care for each other.

And, also, some things we probably could let go of, right? We don’t need to keep searching for ways to keep holding on and keep doing everything.

Because, honestly, it’s exhausting to do all the things, especially when we’re dealing with anxiety, stress, trauma — loss.

We need rest.

All of those Zoom meetings, Zoom conferences, Zoom meet-ups, Zoom planning, and Zoom celebrations have tired us out.

So, today, if it’s possible, I want you to step away from the things. Perhaps one less meeting would help. Or at least cut that meeting short.

Take some time to just be.

I even made you a playlist to help you out, my friends.

Music tends to calm and slow me down.

I pray it does the same for you.