Anytime we face situations we have to understand in new ways, whether it is a friendship, a romantic relationship, a job responsibility, or just a new situation altogether, it requires processing on our parts. We have to “wrap our heads around it” so that we can figure out how to best live into that new reality.
That is what we each are doing right now . . . we are processing.
For some, we are trying to let go of hopes and dreams. High school and college seniors having to figure out how “this” is going to be the end of their academic journey.
For others, we are trying to figure out how to make ends meet. Yesterday I was at Piedmont Pointe speaking with the manager of that housing development and she shared with me the number of calls she’d already received from several single parents who had no idea how they were going to pay their rest because their profession was waitressing at local restaurants.
For many there is the fear of catching the virus or someone that we love doing so. What can we do to combat that fear?
And for most all of us . . . and seriously . . . I think there is some concern over the fact that we can’t find food/necessities in the local stores. Yesterday at one of the local grocery stores the ONLY type of meat they had PERIOD in the ENTIRE STORE was turkey necks. Some have commented that now is a great time to become a vegetarian and to maybe get back to using fig leaves. Or notebook paper. There are always options to toilet paper, right?
Processing causes us to feel a lot of different emotions and it requires GREAT psychological energy!
Sometimes we feel our emotions in quick succession, other times we tap into an emotion and we get stuck there.
Please be kind and gentle with yourself as you process this circumstance we find ourselves in. It is “ok” to feel however you feel, just make sure you don’t get stuck in dark places.
Be kind to those that you love as well. Now is a time when we are spending A LOT of time with those people, so remember . . . those closest to you are the ones that always have your back. Everyone is acting out of their own reality and may we be mindful of trying to look at things from their perspectives.
And – let us be kind to one another. Whether we know each other or not.
Now is a time to be a unified body . . . taking care of others as we respect space and boundaries that are needed in this situation.
We will come through this and we will get to the other side of the storm. It just might be a little while.
John 14:
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.