Thrown In The Deep End

Advancements in technology and industry are generally designed to do one of two things:  provide a higher quality or more pleasing product or improve efficiency.  Dare I say that I am awfully tired and disorganized considering how much time I am supposed to be saving with the plethora of technological developments over the last 20 years?

This period of time dubbed "the pandemic", "2020", "these unprecedented times", etc..., has resulted in polar levels of activity.  For many, we had to slow down and almost stop.  Life was cancelled.  But for others, there was much work to do in order to "beat the coronavirus" and create a "new normal".  

For me, this life interruption has been frustrating and refreshing at the same time.  I've gotten used to a slower pace and less commitments, so forgive me if I tell you that I am somewhat pretending that there really is no school.  I figure if I can't do the fun stuff, I shouldn't have to deal with the chaos of the not-so-fun stuff.  I obviously know better, but it has been a good coping mechanism thus far.  

Being that my first-born came into this world before a new millenium, I actually have memories as a mother of a time that was much less complicated.  I literally remember my husband pointing out an early version of a digital camera on the tram at Disney and thinking, "What?".  I think Justin was about 3.  We still had VHS (which of course were new to households when I was a child), high-speed internet was still up-and-coming, and the IPod was just starting to replace the Walkman.  Life was so much more advanced than the previous 20 years, and so "ancient" compared to now.

This week, I (while still gladly embracing most of it) am ready to throw it all against the wall.  I am so tired of a gazillion passwords and "not really single sign-on" portals.  While I appreciate the communication, I feel inundated with the repeated texts, phone calls, and emails.  I keep forgetting what the next lesson in my daughter's virtual class is about, and there's no book to pick up and flip through!  Just click, password, click, etc...  And do NOT even get me started on two-factor authentication!  I appreciate the extra efforts at security, but what a pain in the neck......

And since I've gotten started.......let's talk social media and news.  Like all technology, these tools can be real gifts.  I never would be able to talk to all of you or find my high school friends or feel like my sister is just minutes away.  But, as they say, you can have too much of a good thing.  It's easy to get overwhelmed with constant input and new information.  Talk about sensory overload!

Truly, as much as the internet has brought us closer together, it also has driven us further apart.  "We" ignore each other, and "we" are MEAN and argumentative behind our keyboards.  That part of it is really disturbing.  

Technology serves us well much of the time, but like us, it is constantly evolving and changing.  I guess that's what makes it so frustrating sometimes.  There's been a lot to adapt to in the last few months, and  my husband and I  are constantly talking about it.  We wonder what changes from this period in history will stick.  Will there always be masks, standing spots, enhanced cleaning protocols, and lowered capacities?  How long will it last?

I always answer this:  in the long run, people will keep what adds value, what makes life easier or more efficient but doesn't add so much cost or aggravation that the feasability of it fizzles.  Like most decisions, it comes down to risks vs. rewards.  We will not be able to be idealistic about it;  we will have to make choices.  But, we will move forward.  We may disagree about which direction to take or choices to make, but the reality is that every positive has a negative, and every negative has a positive.  It's all in how you want to look at it.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;  A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;  A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;  A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;  A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

Everyone Has A Different Story.....Coping With The Coronavirus Pandemic

WE ARE NOT IN THE SAME BOAT ...

I heard that we are all in the same boat, but it's not like that. We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat. Your ship could be shipwrecked and mine might not be. Or vice versa.

For some, quarantine is optimal. A moment of reflection, of re-connection, easy in flip flops, with a cocktail or coffee. For others, this is a desperate financial & family crisis.

For some that live alone they're facing endless loneliness. While for others it is peace, rest & time with their mother, father, sons & daughters.

With the $600 weekly increase in unemployment some are bringing in more money to their households than they were working. Others are working more hours for less money due to pay cuts or loss in sales.

Some families of 4 just received $3400 from the stimulus while other families of 4 saw $0.

Some were concerned about getting a certain candy for Easter while others were concerned if there would be enough bread, milk and eggs for the weekend.

Some want to go back to work because they don't qualify for unemployment and are running out of money. Others want to kill those who break the quarantine.

Some are home spending 2-3 hours/day helping their child with online schooling while others are spending 2-3 hours/day to educate their children on top of a 10-12 hour workday.

Some have experienced the near death of the virus, some have already lost someone from it and some are not sure if their loved ones are going to make it. Others don't believe this is a big deal.

Some have faith in God and expect miracles during this 2020. Others say the worst is yet to come.

So, friends, we are not in the same boat. We are going through a time when our perceptions and needs are completely different.

Each of us will emerge, in our own way, from this storm. It is very important to see beyond what is seen at first glance. Not just looking, actually seeing.

We are all on different ships during this storm experiencing a very different journey.

Unknown author

There is a poem circulating on social media explaining that "we're all in the same storm, but we're not all in the same boat".  That's a pretty good metaphor for all of life really.  In my house, we are lucky to have health, no missing of monumental milestones (like graduation), and a job where we already had Dad at home all the time.  So, yes, we are grateful for that and recognize our blessings.  But, we have had disappointments and life interruptions - an indoor percussion season that got suddenly cut short for my oldest two, resulting in the loss of time with friends, competition, and two road trips;  friends being kept inside instead of hanging out with my youngest;  a school day that is entirely online instead of cooking in Culinary, teaching lessons in a real life preschool, learning new percussion techniques, performing concerts, auditioning for the fall marching season, and giving performances in theater and Junior Thespians; the first summer performing and traveling with friends that share and understand your passion for music and spur you on to greater things - all ripped away.

Your story is different, but you too have things that are unexpected blessings and things that you've lost.  It's a surreal time that feels like a sweet dream or nightmare at any given moment.  It's made harder, because it has become increasingly polarized, yet is still confusing and unknown.  We all have lots of theories, but really, we just have a lot of questions.  That uncertainty is frustrating.

So, we take it day by day, and hope for the best.  But, I get anxious as talk of change takes place with no definitive plan or timeline.  I wish for my children to have normalcy, because this next school year will only come once for them.  Rachel will only have one junior year of high school;  Hannah will only be in 7th grade once.  Plans for marching season start before this school year even ends.  Will band camp happen?  Will there be anything to do over the summer?  Time will soon tell, but I've got to tell you, I'm tired of the uncertainty.  I love having my kids home all the time, but I hate that they are being robbed of things that are important to them.  I miss having other kids over and seeing my kids perform.  The lack of "schedule stress" is great, but it comes at a price.  That's part of my story.

What is your story?  My friend coined the term, "Covid-Joy", and shares her covid-joys with us on Facebook and Instagram.  That friend is one of the most positive people I know, and her choice to share her joy is a ministry that blesses thousands. 

So, what is your covid-joy?  One of mine was having my son really tune in to me when I was having an especially tough weekend, frustrated with the constant negativity of news.  He sent me John Krasinski's "Some Good News" broadcast, and it made my day.  John decided to continue his broadcast and even has thrown a virtual prom.  You can check out his YouTube channel here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOe_y6KKvS3PdIfb9q9pGug

And, it's okay to be frustrated, angry even.  It doesn't mean that you don't care about people or all the families that have lost loved ones.  I think it almost means the opposite, that we were made for relationships.

Letting Go

So,the band is on its way. I am so excited for them! I am confident that this is going to be a wonderful experience for Justin, but truth be told, I am having major FOMO (learned that one from my little sis=fear of missing out). Of course, the lingering cough is not helping, so I hope tomorrow feels better. I did decide during one of my frustration fits today that I am awarding myself at least 3 badges for this "letting go"....... Praying hard....join me?

Evidence

I am so frustrated.  God has taken my voice.  Well, most of it, anyway.  My husband jokingly says that it's just more evidence that God is a man.  Ha.....Ha...

All kidding aside, what evidence of God have you seen?  Do you ever think that the interruptions in your life are orchestrated to put you in the right place at the right time?  Do you ever watch something in nature and think to yourself that someone MUST have created it?  Do you stand in awe of the circle of life barely able to comprehend it?  That's God.  That's evidence of His existence. 

Pay attention.  Your testimony is the data.  The data adds up.  You just have to be willing to collect it.

^{Romans 1:20} 

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Luke 19:40

 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Check out this awesome version of Ain't No Rock!