In this time when all of our rhythms have been turned sideways, upside down, and inside-out (or whatever other metaphor you want to use!), we are probably going to lean towards our default stress-relieving tendency. For some of us, that tendency might be to minimize the anxiety by trying to self-medicate with entertainment, food, or anything that will take our mind away from the “now”. For some of us, it might be to obsess, to look up every news article, listen to every podcast, tune in to every show, to try to control things by absorbing all the information we can. For some of us, it might be to lash out, on social media or in real life, because the pent up discomfort is too much for us to deal with.

But what if, instead of going to our default response, we used this time and moment to find other, more life-giving and lasting ways to be present during this time of uncertainty? One fellow pastor I was talking to today mentioned being more attentive to the beauty around us. Even if we can’t participate in all of the activities we normally enjoy, God’s creation is right outside of our doors for us to marvel at and enjoy. Another way to enjoy creation for some of us might be to take a walk around our neighborhood once a day, or if you have kids to play outside with them.

Some of us have grown used to running on fumes. Because of work, family, school, etc., we do not even notice how fatigued we are. Maybe this is a time to practice getting a couple of more hours of sleep at night or sneak a nap or two during the day. This could be a time to reassess how you are approaching work, to realize we have been made for more than a 9 to 5 schedule. For the self-reliant types, this might be a time to reach out to others. One of my seminary professors commented that instead of calling it “social distancing” we should probably call what we are needing to do right now “physical distancing” because we all need social connections to survive.

And as I shared in my sermon last Sunday, maybe this is a time to establish a consistent habit of prayer into your life. Many of us have more times of silence right now, times of boredom, which we often try to fill up with music or entertainment of some kind. What if we resisted that reflex? What if we leaned into the silence and the boredom and asked, “God, what are you wanting to tell me right now?” What if we used this time to learn how to recognize the voice of our Creator, who speaks to us in so many ways, through so many channels, but who does not force us to listen?

So as we have been sharing with you in regards to our church’s response during this pandemic, let us be loving and let us be wise. Let’s think of others and show Christ’s love to them, and let’s also consider how God might be able to redeem this situation and bring something good out of it, both in our world at large but also in our own life.

I leave you with a prayer someone shared with me today:

Best Laid Plans Prayer, by Pastor Katy
Lord, we had the best laid plans. The teachers were teaching, the doctors were healing, the calendars were full. And we had everything set. But plans are ephemeral, the illusion of control. Lord, when I get stressed, I go over my schedule. First x, then y, then z. First x, then y, then z. Now all my best laid plans fail. I cobble together new ones, but they are ragged and imperfect. I have no best laid plans. All I have is you God, comforter in the middle of the night. God who stands by the lonely, wrapping them in the breath of the Holy Spirit. God of the sick and poor–I’m so glad that I worship the God of the sick and the poor in this uncertain time. God of kairos, I’m glad you don’t run on human time, because it’s all slurring together and last week sounds like last year and the future is dim at best.

God I no longer have any plans, I only have you.

Be with me I pray.

Amen.