Yesterday I revealed how difficult it is becoming to collect my thoughts into a post. Perhaps some of the adrenaline and motivation that set me on a “write every day” campaign has worn off. I shared that “Lisa” has a lot of thoughts in her head, yet struggles to organize them. Apparently, I am not alone in that. Several readers admitted difficulty concentrating or enjoying completing a task, adding, “I thought I was the only one.”
Dear friends, I can probably guess some other kinds of thoughts that have run through your mind this week. Maybe you aren’t sure exactly what it is you’re supposed to be doing. I struggle with that. And it can get worse. Sometimes the notion hits that what I’m doing doesn’t matter that much, at least not compared to what the front line workers are doing. After all, I get to stay home, go out for walks, cook meals, and write a blog. And how important (or good) is that blog anyway?
There are other questions. Am I praying enough? Why don’t I call more people to check on them? How is it that when “everything” was cancelled, I’m not getting around to the projects I wanted to do before life changed?
I didn’t sleep much last night. I’m guessing that you’ve had some restless nights and maybe a dream or two where you find yourself in a place where too many people are not social distancing! Friends, life has changed in a way that we could not have expected. Some of us continue working important jobs and possibly being exposed to COVID19. Others are missing grandchildren terribly. Some are lonely. We all want to do our part, but we sometimes lack energy or motivation. What is the right balance between rest and action?
I have been blessed by so many little things that people have been doing. And I’ve been noticing some opportunities to show kindness to others. I couldn’t get to sleep last night because I was so revved up after making some face masks for a couple and their son who needs them for work. The sewing went really well and felt important. So today I set about making masks for three more families, but it didn’t go smoothly and I only got two orders finished. The machine was not performing as well today, and I didn’t want to fuss with it. But I still got two orders completed, masks made for folks from church to wear when they go to the grocery store. A small thing? No.
I truly do believe that each little thing we do for someone else matters. And I want you to know that you’re not “the only one” who has emotional ups and downs, wondering whether you’re performing as well as you should. We truly are all in this together. We didn’t ask for it and weren’t able to prepare for it, but it is what we have been entrusted with.
I do have a sense that this is some of the work I’m supposed to do now. And I appreciate that there are people who relate to and gain some encouragement from Thoughts Collected by Lisa. This, as you know, is a place for me to be honest about myself and my faith, a place to give God the glory for all that I accomplish. He is the reason I write.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10