Warren Jones: Anchorage Sojourn
Being Together While We’re Apart
Because we all miss our Fondren family, here are our Sequester Stories—a series of stories and photos by Fondren folks sharing what our “pandemic lives” are about.
After a five-month sojourn working in Anchorage, I’m back living at our home in Belhaven. I haven’t been able to visit Mama at The Blake since Christmas, and I know it will be a while before I get to see her again. That’s been the hard part. Not being able to congregate for worship is hard too, but I am really enjoying our video services and our Odyssey class via Zoom. Preparing my own communion for video worship and observing the sacrament in a more intimate setting was a unique experience I would not have had otherwise. Learning to embrace the different seems to be the challenge of the season.
The house is fairly empty now, but its sparseness has become familiar and comfortable. Jasmine and I enjoy playing fetch with no obstacles to mind, and the library is a treasure trove when being in a hurry has no relevance. That’s probably my favorite thing about this juncture, being able to slow down and contemplate things in an unhurried way. The final two verses of Psalm 27 have a particular relevance for me lately. I feel like I am praying more and that it comes more naturally.
I’ve been spending a lot of time reading a variety of fiction, history, poetry, and theology. I’m particularly enjoying Niebuhr’s The Nature and Destiny of Manand Miss Eudora’s The Optimist’s Daughter, which I have somehow never read. If anyone is short on books, please let me know. I have lots to give away and will deliver.
Jasmine and I have also enjoyed walking around a lot in Belhaven; the spring weather has been splendid. My earliest memories are of this neighborhood, and I’ve lived here on and off my whole life. Right now, there’s negligible traffic, and when I see the neighborhood kids out on their bikes it reminds me of when we were doing the same in the ‘70s. A mockingbird has been making agitated swoops at us in one particular spot around the corner, protecting her nest, no doubt. I still want to check out some streets I haven’t been down in a while and maybe walk over by the river if it dries out a little.
Cooking is another great “no rush” activity for me. Red beans and rice is one of my favorites and something of a Monday custom along with laundry. It’s really easy, inexpensive, and slow. Speaking of red beans, a bunch of my friends and I have been listening to old New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival highlights on https://wwoz.org and reminiscing a lot on social media. Since the festival was cancelled this year, they had a “Festing in Place” on their live stream. Their archives are an excellent diversion available anytime.
That’s about all we’re up to. I very much look forward to when we can all get back together in person and I really appreciate all the prayers for Mama and me. In the meantime, I know we’re all together in Christ and that Grace abounds.