How Long Do We Have to Wait...

Isolation, Trapped in Home, Two Anxious Kids, Two Anxious Parents, Amazon, Pre-Packaged Food, 20lbs.  This is pretty much the reality we have been since March.  Just feeling stuck!
Since March, since the beginning of the pandemic we have found ourselves in isolation, trapped in our home, two kids unable to do anything with their friends, amazon packages have been coming nonstop to our doorstep, and I have gained nearly 20lbs!
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It’s nearly impossible to get out and exercise with the pandemic raging around us.  For real!  We haven’t seen our friends or family since March!  We get nearly everything through Amazon and I am getting exhausted watching YouTube and Netflix.  I get out to fish a little, but can’t do it for a long time since the kids are at home (they ain’t going to school) and doing virtual learning.  I can’t remember what a fresh fruit or vegetable looks like!  But, gotta keep at it, gotta wait until this thing is done and over. 

Yeah, we have gone through a lot of changes in lifestyle because of COVID-19, but I feel that it is the best.  The best option for me is to eliminate all possible chances of getting this thing and passing it along to someone else.  Sacrifices were made, including my physical health, but at least mentally and spiritually I still feel good.  Hanging out with the kids is a blessing because I can see them grow, learn, and bond with each other through this pandemic; I am grateful.  Norah asks me when she can hang out with her buddy Noel, and the only answer I can give her is… soon…  Norah asks me when can we go on a family vacation and I keep telling her soon… Norah keeps asking when can we go together to the store and buy toys… and I always say, soon.  So How long will we have to wait to get back to normal life?  Soon.

Christmas is coming and we are in the beginning of the Advent season.  I recommend everyone to read Isaiah 2:2-4, the day in which the Lord will come and how glorious it will be.  I imagine these verses are not just about going to go to the place to worship God, but that people will be able to find freedom soon.  Freedom to go to worship freely, freedom to live their life holistically and completely, freedom to travel, freedom from worry.  That day will come…. Soon.  When?  Soon.  Even though the church has been open to do in house worship, I feel that we are constantly on high alert.  We have masks, we have hand sanitizer, zero singing, zero responsive reading, in the house of worship for 30 minutes, consolidated worship, and nitpicking at what we can do to assure that COVID-19 will not affect our community. 

I find myself constantly talking with people who are health experts working with our state, our nation to help us keep going to do worship.  I know it’s not perfect, but it is safe and we are able to do worship in God’s house.  I am thankful for all the efforts of the elders, deacons, church staff, Sunday School teachers, kids, youth, and college kids doing their part to make worship possible.  They too made the sacrifice to change their life to assure a safe worshipping environment.  I am thankful for the congregation doing their part in making immense changes to their life to make this all possible.  We have been fortunate to not have any cases of COVID-19, and it will stay that way, because each and every one of us is doing our part.  We are doing our part to be safe and healthy.  The day will come that we will be free.  The day will come that we can do as we please, the day will come that we can do fellowship again, but when that will happen?  Soon.

Thank you all for being patient with the church.  Thank you all for being understanding in the efforts that we are doing here at the church.  Your efforts will be rewarded when the day comes that we “shall be raised above the hills.”  May that day come soon.