SMILING THROUGH

“Even though the banishment drove you to the ends of the earth, YHWH, your God, will bring you back into the land which your ancestors occupied, and you will occupy it again. Then God will bring you prosperity and make you even more numerous than your ancestors were.” – Deuteronomy 30:4-5

“By the way, I’m smiling underneath this mask.”

These words were offered by a colleague this morning as we greeted one another. Of course, that’s not the first time I’ve heard that comment spoken in these mask-wearing days. I’ve even seen some masks that literally have a big smile etched on them. (I’m partial to wearing masks with a handle-bar moustache.)

Truth be told, the eyes often give away the smile underneath the mask. And, when we truly pay attention to one another, those smiles become even more obvious. Around Berkeley these days, the smiles are easily busting through the masks we wear. Not even the heaviest-duty face covering would be able to cover the smiles on campus this fall. Our students and faculty are thrilled to be back together for in-person learning; to reclaim some well-needed face-to-face socializing.

In student Bible Studies on Wednesday, the word perspective came up a lot. During pandemic times, they expressed a newfound appreciation for blessings we so often take for granted. One student reflected that she now wakes up grateful to just be able to come to school each day. Another said he realized that not everyone his age has access to a computer for learning, and that he now looks at his device in a new way. Yet another student offered gratitude for his health on a basic level, which he had never really done before.

What’s more, last night at Calvary Christian High School, I witnessed what could only be described as pure joy on the faces of our girls’ volleyball teams in competition. The games surely meant a bit more, having gone through the long winter of this past spring and summer.

These revelations got me thinking of the year 539 BCE. After spending a generation exiled in Babylon, the Jews were granted access back into their homeland with a decree from King Cyrus of Persia. Displaced and disoriented, they had experienced great struggle, before some semblance of normalcy finally emerged. Sure, they had learned to adapt to life outside of Jerusalem. Sure, their old familiar had been reshaped. And, sure, when they returned, the temple would need to be rebuilt. But, they were on their way home.

Our exile has been notably less extreme, but the feelings of displacement and disorientation ring true. And, while we have adapted quite well to a reshaped familiar, we too are making our way back home. In many ways, our campus is now seen through different eyes. Same address. But different perspective.

Berkeley is both masked up AND full of smiles. Perhaps even more so than our pre-COVID days. Because we now realize a bit more how precious our time together truly is; that interacting in person is surely a gift. Yes, we stumble through how to greet one other minus a handshake. Yes, we find it frustrating to maintain social distance between one another. Yes, we cannot wait until these mitigation days are over. But, also, we are being formed and transformed with each new perspective gained.