COVID-19 Thoughts

It's been a minute.  The kind of minute that spans two years and a lifetime's worth of memories and incremental changes.  Plans were made.  Plans changed.  New visions were cast.  And here we are already nearing April of 2020.  It crossed my mind around New Year's that it would really be quaint if everyone took the fun parts (let's leave out the rampant drug use, and illegal activites, and the opulence that generally results in bad things at the end) of the Roaring Twenties and inserted them into this year.

I had no idea that within a few months, we'd be under a Shelter in Place order from the Governor, I'd be teaching remotely to students who did not sign up for my educational tutoring services online, Brice would be working from home, there would be a widespread lack of toilet paper and sanitizing supplies, and most people would be wishing they would have bought stock in video-conferencing apps like Zoom, Google Hangouts, etc.  It's a surreal time; it has brought about great tragedy for many, yet I have also seen some amazing fruit growing amidst the gloomy, fearful ashes of the visions we had for 2020. 

My intention is certainly not to minimize the pain and suffering of those who are suddenly without jobs, without someone to care for their kids, without a way to visit their aged loved ones and give them giant hugs of reassurance.  I'm not here to discount the increase in suffering due to abuse and depression that are intensifying under the orders to stay at home.  I mourn those realities and pray for deliverance and healing for the victims and the aggressors everywhere.  I've noticed a lot of fear around, I see it in people's eyes when I go to get groceries, when I post a letter at the Post Office, when I scroll through posts on social media.

The bright spots of hope and kindness I see sprouting are varied and many.  My prayer is that, whenever this is all resolved and we have moved on to the next season, everyone will continue the good habits we've intentionally formed while at home more, for those of us who've had any more time to do so.  I hope to see more random acts of kindness regularly.  More smiles to strangers and loved ones alike.  More phone calls and video chats with people we care about who are too far away to have a coffee or tea with.  More recognizing need surrounding us and finding creative ways to help.  More empathy for people for whom this COVID-19 chaos is not actually a new thing.  I have friends all over the world, and not all of them have strong immune systems.  Not all of them have food on a regular basis.  Not all of them have steady jobs.  Not all of them have a whole gob of friends to hang out with.  Not all of them know they have value just for being themselves.  Not all of them have strong, healthy children that can regularly play with other kids or go have fun at the park. 

I really hope that out of all of this weirdness, people can look at the daily struggles of others and not just turn blind eyes or not be able to empathize.  We all have more of a shared experience across the globe than perhaps we've had in a long time.  So, let's use it to spur us on to love and good deeds toward one another.  Sharing kindness costs only setting aside our own convenience for a moment and being creative in how to look for a fleeting moment into someone else's soul and see the treasure of who they are beneath all the gunk we sometimes let overtake us.

Although I am certainly ready for the COVID-19 to make like a tree and "leaf", I am mostly looking forward to seeing the non-essentials of life stripped away to the important things and the fruit of seeds of kindness and hope sown to take root and flourish in the season ahead, whatever lies in our not-so-distant futures.  Onward and upward, as they say, and make sure that you smile at someone with authenticity today, you choose to forgive someone who is unforgiveable in your life, and you look for things that you are grateful for, regardless of the current struggle of your circumstances.  God's peace be upon you, friend!

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