The afternoon light fades into evening, then is overcome by the darkness of night. The
social distancing implemented to flatten the curve of the pandemic
leaves me restless. I stare at the ceiling fan in my bedroom. My introvert longs for human interaction. I cannot
imagine the torment this must be for the extroverts. I am thankful for
my daily conversations with my roommate and one brief exchange with the Fed Ex guy who delivered a package on Monday. On Saturday I take time out and listen to an author-friend explore Elijah's
story. She describes her own journey adhering to the Safer at Home
guidelines and invites us to do the same... to sit in our emotions, our sense of isolation,
disruption and loss. My mind wanders backward in time: The Great Recession, Ebola, 9/11, Y2K, Cold War, Space Shuttle Challenger, AIDS Epidemic, Jonestown Massacre, and assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and President John F. Kennedy ... poverty, wealth, faith, doubt, divorce, marriage, widowhood, pregnancy, childbirth, growth, strength, love. Using a black pen I write ill-equipped, lost, scared, distracted, loved, blessed, befriended, scattered, faithful, concerned, adrift, self-doubt and assured on the line-less white paper in front of me. The virus is contagious. Panic is contagious too. The author encourages us to journal our thoughts on COVID-19's impact and our experience. I draw a horizontal line across my page and make a timeline in response to her question: How will we use these days? Be calm. Be kind. Be patient. God is bigger than whatever evil threatens to emotionally crush me today.
R
I leave you peace; my peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the
world does. So don’t let your hearts be troubled or afraid. -- Jesus, in John 14:27 NCV
