Pandemic

Pandemic

It’s hard to believe that we are almost through August and that September is right around the corner. It’s even harder to believe that life as we have known it changed completely five months ago in the middle of March. 

One moment you are playing with your grandsons at the local park, and the next you are locked down in your home with an overflowing pantry of rice and beans wondering when you’ll be able to get your hands on some more toilet paper. 

Since March we’ve spent more time at home than we ever realized was possible, we’ve worn a mask each time we’ve enter a store, we’ve not gotten together with friends or much of our family for months, and we’ve been bombarded with so much information and misinformation that we don’t know who or what to believe. 

Add to all this rioting and looting in many of the major cities throughout the country since Memorial Day. The world is upside down, and people are so divided that we’ve lost any semblance of understanding each other. In many ways we fear for our nation, but pray that somehow things will get better. 

Churches are still closed for many, the presidential candidate for the Democrats appears to be in cognitive decline, and yet it’s a classic example of The Emperor Has No Clothes. Daily we are bombarded by a news media encouraging us to move along as there is nothing to see even though our own eyes tell us differently. Words like socialism and Marxism are brought up in daily conversation now. 

In my personal life there are some major changes ahead, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself so I’ll write about that later. Perhaps the silver lining of this pandemic is I’m getting to spend more time with my grandsons, which I love, and I’m learning to be overall more content. Even though, at times it can be discouraging wondering when we’ll get our old lives back. 

Spiritually my walk with Jesus is deepening, and although I’ve only read one novel in the last five months I have read my Bible daily. I pray more for my country and our president than I ever have. 

Chuck and I are together pretty much all the time since he now works from home, but we have transitioned and adjusted quite well. When he does finally retire I don’t think it will be too terribly hard to adjust. 

I’ve studied, and cooked, and pondered, and reached out to family and friends more often using the wonders of technology. Five months ago I knew nothing about Zoom meetings, and today I’m an old pro. 

The restlessness I used to feel about not accomplishing enough or simply being enough has faded, as today I put my identity in Christ, and trust that he is in charge. I pray that this pandemic comes to an end soon, but look forward to the future and the possibilities it may bring.