And it's April...

This is my April calendar.  No track.  No theatre. No academic competitions.  No youth group.  No Bible Study.  No friend gatherings.  No trips.  No hikes.

It looks bizarre.

To be honest it looks depressing.

I think that is the state I was in late last week when I switched my calendar from March to April.  I felt drained.  Disconnected.  Unmotivated.  Bored.  My heart was heavy.  I appreciated all the silly memes on social media and COVID19 songs.  Yes, there needs to be space to lighten the mood.

Pay attention to the grief and pain too.

I  know of people in the hospital suffering from this virus leaving precious loved ones at home who cannot visit them.  I know of people laid off from work and they have children they are struggling to provide for.  I know of people struggling with how to teach their children at home and utilize unfamiliar technology.  I know of people who feel lonely and disconnected.  I know of people grieving special spring events like weddings and graduations.

Today was supposed to be our annual Easter egg hunt in the park by our house. My daughter also reminded her formal (similar to be prom) would be this weekend as well.

 It is healthy and necessary to acknowledge that this whole situation plainly stinks.  This is not what we signed up for.  There are many unanswered questions even with all the information we are constantly given.

John 11:35 says, "Jesus wept."  This is a meaningful verse to me and not because it is the shortest verse in the Bible and super easy to memorize!  When Lazarus died, Jesus did not break forth into advice giving or lightening the mood.  He grieved and he wept with the family before he raised Lazarus from dead.  

He grieves and he walks with us during this time.  We have a holy comfort.  We receive a true holy comfort from Christ who promised to be with us always.  We receive a true holy comfort from someone who hears our grieving and sees our tears.  There are moments or days or even longer spans of time when we might feel like that is all we have right now.  And yet that is all we need.

Have a blessed Easter.

Race Report #3 Social Distance 5K

For my third race of 2020 I asked my friend Emily if she wanted to do a virtual 5k with me.  We signed up for the Social Distance 5k.  We randomly picked Wednesday morning because it both worked with our schedules.  I am thankful we picked a beautiful cloudless sky morning and the temperature was perfect.

I mapped out our 5k going past our friend Karen's house and our friend Heather's house.  We ran on low traffic roads and did not have to deal with many stoplights.  The crowd support from Karen and her four kids was welcomed.  I used to watch some of them when I did in home day care and I loved seeing their smiling faces.

We ran through one of our local parks and it has beautiful wildflowers growing.  I love hiking in our state parks and venturing out to the coast this time of year.  COVID19 has kept me from doing that.  It has made me appreciate the little trails in our city parks and the beautiful flowers blooming everywhere.  Including the tulips in my own front yard.

I did not take this picture while we were racing.  I came back later to take it!

Emily and I talked about the challenges of working from home, teaching via Zoom or You Tube and dealing with children with mixed emotions including boredom.  We are grieving over cancellations and plans changing.  There is the ongoing fear of, "How much longer?"

As I noticed the beautiful bright morning, the blooming wildflowers, and the bird chirping I was reminded of Psalm 113:3 which says, "From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised."  Life as we know it continues.  The flowering trees are starting to sprout new green leaves.  Squirrels are scurrying all over the park.  The morning light is coming earlier and the evening sun setting later.  God is here.  He is in control.  My prayer is you feel His presence during this time.