– Written by Rev. Tambi Swiney, Spiritual Wellness Coordinator
Disappointed.
This word has been popping up repeatedly over the past few months as a result of the physical distancing necessary to minimize the impact of the pandemic.
- High school and college students are disappointed that they were not able to celebrate their academic achievements at traditional in-person commencement ceremonies.
- Brides and grooms are disappointed that their wedding plans have been dramatically altered.
- Grieving families are disappointed that they have been unable to gather for funeral services to remember loved ones who have passed away.
- Athletes from children to Olympians are disappointed that they have been unable to compete.
- Singers and dancers and musicians are disappointed that performances have been cancelled – and their fans are disappointed, too.
- Parents are disappointed that their children have been unable to attend school.
- New grandparents – like me – are disappointed that they have not been able to meet their newborn grandchildren.
The list goes on and on. How would you complete this sentence?
I am disappointed that _________________________________.
Disappointments are a part of life. At The Next Door, we are disappointed each time a client chooses to leave AMA or ACA. We are disappointed when the difficult decision must be made to ask a client to leave. During this unprecedented period in the history of TND, we are disappointed that some of our team members cannot work alongside us for financial reasons. We are disappointed that volunteers cannot safely join us in our work. We are disappointed by all the disruptions, personally and professionally.
In the Spirituality in Recovery group, clients regularly express three primary levels of disappointment:
- They are disappointed in themselves.
- They are disappointed in family members.
- They are disappointed in God.
God can handle our disappointment. We need not fear being honest with God – after all, God knows what we are going to say before a word is even on our lips. We can express the depth of our disappointment and ask God to help us to make meaning of these troubling circumstances. What does our disappointment reveal about the routines and rituals that are important to us, the people who are important to us, the values that are important to us? In the midst of our disappointment, can we still see God at work?
“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise God again—my Savior and my God!” (Psalm 42:5-6a)
Published on June 1, 2020
