What in the world? Really?!? I mean, one day we are just going about being neighbors and friends and family and BAM!, out of nowhere this thing comes. It just whipped its ugly head right out of nowhere and shows up in our homes taking over everything normal.
Causing parents to be the teacher of academics when it is not in their skillset, causing employees to use caution at their jobs, causing all of us to question whether we are doing enough to keep things sanitized that come from outside our space.
You have to understand, I am not a news watcher. Never have been. For me, it is too depressing and way too political. I just let my husband tell me what is going on in the rest of the world. This spares me all of the unwanted negativity of someone else’s opinion. Good or bad that’s how I am.
So here I am, over here in my little corner in the middle of nowhere, trying to process it all; physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
Physically has been fairly easy. I am an introvert, so limited interaction doesn’t bother me so much. My husband is exactly the opposite, he needs that outside connection so he is on the phone-A LOT!
Emotional processing has been a bit harder. We are empty nesters and our children are scattered right now. I cancelled a trip to go see one of them and the other one is in military training and doesn’t know if he will be able to get back to his wife anytime soon.
Spiritually—let’s get right to the heart. Where is my hope in all of this?
First of all, let’s define hope:
• Merriam Webster Dictionary—a feeling that what is wanted will happen
• Biblical definition—trustful expectation; the anticipation of a favorable outcome under God’s guidance; confidence that what God has done for us in the past guarantees our participation in what God will do in the future.
In order for me to process all the things, I need to have my heart in the right place. Sure, you and I can hope—make a statement and believe that what I/we want to happen will happen. But really? How many times have I/we done that and it works? If you are anything like me, it doesn’t happen without a lot of manipulating on my part. I lose, roughly, every time. Why? Because it is based on something this imperfect human being has to do.
The other option is the hope that “what God has done for us in the past guarantees our participation in what God will do in the future.” I win every time. Why? Because my hope isn’t based on something I have to do or manipulate, it is based on a perfect God. And we all have a story we can share of what God has done for us in the past.
I have had this written on a note card for years hanging in my bathroom—
“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” –Corrie Ten Boom
So, dear sister, as you sit in your space today, remember what God has done for you and cultivate that in your heart.
Kim Blain 