A Down Day
Today was a stay-at-home day for me. I'm at church on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to help with Hope's Kitchen, but I stay at home the rest of the days. I slept in, answered emails and texts, had a couple of phone calls...but what I noticed most of all was how incredibly unmotivated I am! I just don't feel like doing much of anything. Like so many people, today Netflix is my best friend. I'm trying not to obsess over the news, but I still want to know what's going on--who's struggling--who should we be praying for in our own country and around the world. I suppose the real reason I'm so lackluster today is the realization that we're in for 30 more days of this. A whole month. At a minimum. Sigh!
I'm reminded of an older friend who had to wait at home for two whole years during World War II, waiting for her husband to return from overseas. Luckily, she was able to catch a trolley each day into downtown Denver to work as a secretary, then over to the University of Denver for music classes, then finally home late in the evening. It may sound like a terribly busy, draining schedule--but it kept her busy--and busy was easier to take than doing nothing and allowing her mind to focus on her worry.
We aren't supposed to be going and doing away from our homes--so what can we do to keep busy? There's housework, of course, and with springtime weather perhaps we can tackle some long-neglected household projects. There's walking or hiking or biking to keep our connection to the outside world and our natural surroundings. This is a time to try new recipes, or challenge ourselves to create meals with whatever we have on hand. And when we come to the end of our creativity in thinking of things to do....there is silence and there is prayer.
If you've always told yourself that you're just too busy to read the Bible, guess what? You have time now. If you think about calling or emailing an old friend, but never quite get around to it, guess what? You have time to do that now. If it's been years since you've actually hand-written a letter or note to someone, guess what? You can do it now. If you've always wanted to start writing in a journal--this is the perfect time to write letters to yourself--express your feelings--even use your journal to write letters to God. Writing in my journals--writing letters to God--got me through my teen and young adult years. I suppose writing these daily emails is getting me through this COVID-19 experience.
So when you have your own "down days"--and you will have them--probably more of them than you want in the next few weeks--please remember that feeling down or scared or anxious or frustrated or lonely or soul-weary--all of these feelings are more than OK--in this circumstance and throughout our lives. What we have right now is something we don't ordinarily give ourselves: the gift of time. So let yourself feel. Give yourself grace. And talk about it with God.
I promise these times won't last forever.
Psalm 69:1-3, 32-33
Save me, God,
because the waters have reached my neck!
2 I have sunk into deep mud.
My feet can’t touch the bottom!
I have entered deep water;
the flood has swept me up.
3 I am tired of crying.
My throat is hoarse.
My eyes are exhausted with waiting for my God.
You who seek God—
let your hearts beat strong again
33 because the Lord listens to the needy
and doesn’t despise his captives.
May our prayer be simply this--that tomorrow will be a better day for all of God's people.
Peace and all good,
Pastor Jean 💗
I'm reminded of an older friend who had to wait at home for two whole years during World War II, waiting for her husband to return from overseas. Luckily, she was able to catch a trolley each day into downtown Denver to work as a secretary, then over to the University of Denver for music classes, then finally home late in the evening. It may sound like a terribly busy, draining schedule--but it kept her busy--and busy was easier to take than doing nothing and allowing her mind to focus on her worry.
We aren't supposed to be going and doing away from our homes--so what can we do to keep busy? There's housework, of course, and with springtime weather perhaps we can tackle some long-neglected household projects. There's walking or hiking or biking to keep our connection to the outside world and our natural surroundings. This is a time to try new recipes, or challenge ourselves to create meals with whatever we have on hand. And when we come to the end of our creativity in thinking of things to do....there is silence and there is prayer.
If you've always told yourself that you're just too busy to read the Bible, guess what? You have time now. If you think about calling or emailing an old friend, but never quite get around to it, guess what? You have time to do that now. If it's been years since you've actually hand-written a letter or note to someone, guess what? You can do it now. If you've always wanted to start writing in a journal--this is the perfect time to write letters to yourself--express your feelings--even use your journal to write letters to God. Writing in my journals--writing letters to God--got me through my teen and young adult years. I suppose writing these daily emails is getting me through this COVID-19 experience.
So when you have your own "down days"--and you will have them--probably more of them than you want in the next few weeks--please remember that feeling down or scared or anxious or frustrated or lonely or soul-weary--all of these feelings are more than OK--in this circumstance and throughout our lives. What we have right now is something we don't ordinarily give ourselves: the gift of time. So let yourself feel. Give yourself grace. And talk about it with God.
I promise these times won't last forever.
Psalm 69:1-3, 32-33
Save me, God,
because the waters have reached my neck!
2 I have sunk into deep mud.
My feet can’t touch the bottom!
I have entered deep water;
the flood has swept me up.
3 I am tired of crying.
My throat is hoarse.
My eyes are exhausted with waiting for my God.
You who seek God—
let your hearts beat strong again
33 because the Lord listens to the needy
and doesn’t despise his captives.
May our prayer be simply this--that tomorrow will be a better day for all of God's people.
Peace and all good,
Pastor Jean 💗
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