the grief is not adequately wrestled
with then it leaves for the paralysis
and one of the ways in which music at
its deepest level helps us is that allow
us to objectified our creaks to get
enough distance from it so we can come
out strong even though the memory of
their loss is something that will haunt
us until we ourselves die I think also
if poets have a lot to offer us there's
there's there's a poem by Rumi where he
says this being human is a guesthouse
every morning a new arrival a joy a
depression
meanness some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected guest welcome and
entertain them all even if they are a
crowd of sorrows who violently sweep
your house empty a bit of its furniture
still treat each guest honorably
maybe clearing you out for some new
delight the dark thought the shame the
malice meet them all at the door
laughing and invite them in be grateful
for whatever comes because each has been
sent as a guide from beyond and I think
there's an immense amount of truth to
that is to recognize the gifts that come
with the trials also I'm glad that the
all the other panelists are far greater
than I am because that first question
certainly is way above my pay grade I do
just want to acknowledge that question
though and say you know the questioner
made a reference I think in the unique
way in which people are dying I mean I
think there's so many overlooked aspects
of this in their heart or aspects that
are easy to overlook you know the idea
that people are not that just people are
dying you know who don't have to be
dying now or wouldn't be dying otherwise
but they're dying alone because they can
have by definition it can have visitors
in the hospital and what a what a sad
and tragic thing that is that people
suffering from this by definition have
to suffer alone because of the danger of
transmission and what a what a terrible
thing that is and so but some I'm glad
the questioner brought it up it's just
such a hard thing on the you know we are
we are thinking about Passover full-time
now in the Jewish community there's I
think I could say without without
controversy that the Passover Seder that
our our liturgy and celebration on here
in the United States on the first
evenings of Passover is the most
family-oriented aspect of our liturgical
year I mean there's no such thing as a
seder without without family without
guests and when there is including this
year especially this year it's it's
really a tragedy
the rabbi's the rabbi's serving the
communities that I'm a part of have said
unequivocally
that everyone has to stay home even if
that means being alone and I think I
think we have to don't want to end this
on such a such a sour note but I think
we actually have there's a lot of ways
to find meaning in that of course there
are many beautiful stories about grand
rabbis who have celebrated a Passover
Seder alone under difficult
circumstances and we can draw a lot of
inspiration from that but at the end of
the day it's a tragedy . not the tragedy
of death of course that we were speaking
about before but it's a tragedy . and we
have to just acknowledge that and just
recognize that this means and again I'd
rather have a Passover Seder alone then
lose my job I'd rather hoped Passover
Seder alone than lose my life and you
know fortunately I'll be able to be home
with my wife and my young children
that's that's an incredible blessing but
we won't necessarily be able to visit
you know our extended family as we would
have otherwise and that's really really
hard and I just hope and it's it's kind
of a lame comfort but I hope people can
find see a new angle that they never
would have seen in the holiday except
for these circumstances you know we
celebrate because we were slaves in
Egypt and we were redeemed and they in
the liturgy each year that we're
supposed to see ourselves as though we
left slavery and it's hard and are very
comfortable American lives certainly
among people here to imagine ourselves
suffering and this is not the sober
suffering like Egyptian slavery let me
be clear
and nevertheless it's a little bit
easier to put ourselves and in shoes of
dislocation and difficulty and so on and
so I think we need to take that take the
lessons but also just accept the fact
that this is a real loss having these
holidays come up without the normal
gatherings and there's just no way
around that
you know I was so struck by what Cornell
was saying about music and what homes I
was saying about poetry and it reminded
me of this this this very morning
because some of our great hymns are
really combinations of music and poetry
as you know Sharia although my Catholic
I grew up in West Virginia among
evangelicals and I learned to love the
old hymns that I grew up with and this
morning as I was just reflecting on our
condition or current crisis and all the
sadness associated with it and the
dangers what came flooding into my mind
was that wonderful old hymn I wonder if
you know it called we're drifting or I'm
drifting too far from the shore you're
drifting too far from the shore and
here's the poetry of it it's out on the
perilous out on the I guess perilous
deep where danger silently creep and
storms violently sweep you're drifting
too far from the shore you're drifting
too far from the shore drifting too far
from the shore come to Jesus today he
will show you the way you're drifting
too far from the shore that's a sort of
Christian reflection on what we do in
the face of the dangers that inevitably
come in life especially when we are
distracted and concerned with everything
else and not with what ultimately
matters but there is always the coming
back come to Jesus today he will show
you the way even though we're drifting
too far from the shore
Robby thank you there are so many
questions that have been asked there's
so much more that could be discussed but
this has been such a rich time and just
really appreciate each of our panelists
your generosity with your time and with
your wisdom as we wrap up just one more
note to all of our listeners we will be
sending out a survey immediately after
this broadcast and really would just
covet and welcome your thoughts on how
we can continue to do this better and
enhance this as an offering of both for
Trinity form and for Baylor and we just
thank you for joining us today as we
wrap up given that I think each of our
panelists have mentioned this it seems
only fitting to close in prayer so
Cornell would you close us out with
prayer indeed indeed dear God we come
humble hearts sincere souls even in this
grimness we acknowledged the gift of
life like each day is a gift and each
breath is a breakthrough and we hope
that this time we spent together for the
robbing sister sister she read brother
Hamza brother Daniel to be a moment that
would provide some inspiration some
empowerment to help somebody as they are
wrestling with this crisis that we know
will crack vessels we know we are
inadequate we know we are finite
we represent very very rich and profile
traditions of people down to the years
trying to make sense of overwhelming
suffering in massive misery and we know
as we come together whatever our
differences that there's a source of
solidarity which is moral and spiritual
that allows us to be the forces for good
we can be in the midst of this
overwhelming catastrophe amen
thank you again to each of our panelists
on behalf of both Baylor and Baylor in
Washington program and all of us at the
Trinity forum thank you so much for
joining us good night