Earlier in the pandemic I had a mental image of entering a cocoon, with the hope of emerging transformed into something beautiful at the end. I tried to picture quarantine as an opportunity to rest and let God work deeply. That may have been wishful thinking. Now as the pandemic is slowly lurching towards an end of sorts, I think I am in fact emerging as a more exhausted and broken self. But, I have survived, and maybe that’s enough.
Recent changes -- thanks to the vaccine -- have allowed my life to resume some sort of normalcy and left me feeling more hopeful. My kids have been able to start going to school part-time, which I am immensely grateful for. My daughter joined a swim team. My movie discussion group was finally able to gather in person around my backyard fire pit instead of on Zoom.
I feel like I am rebuilding my life and I sense there is a general need for rebuilding as a society at this time. God invites us to partner in the rebuilding process.
Isaiah 58:12 (NIV)
“Those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the age-old foundations; and you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.”
There are several things I’m watching out for during this season of rebuilding.
Acknowledge the losses. Many of us have experienced a range of losses this past year including sickness and death, mental health struggles, broken relationships, and economic impacts. Many children, including my own, may struggle to rebound from the social and academic losses of the past year. As much as we want to quickly put this season behind us, acknowledging the grief that goes along with these losses is a necessary part of the healing and rebuilding process. If you are feeling despair, I want to encourage you that it is not a permanent feeling. You can seek help from a friend or a professional counselor. God wants to redeem this season of grief, “to comfort all who mourn...bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning.” (Isaiah 61:3)
Maintain empathy and compassion. One of the things I’ve been most struggling with is maintaining empathy and compassion for those who have had a different response to the pandemic than I have. This seems to be the case for many folks. We’re in a heightened time of ideological divides, not just as it relates to public health, but also to general political views. It’s so tempting and easy to have anger towards people who are in active opposition to your views. Brené Brown cautions against what she calls “common enemy intimacy.” Having anger towards whoever you view as the out-group, be they anti-maskers, always-maskers, or OSU Beaver fans*, does not help us move forward. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Darkness cannot drive away darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive away hate; only love can do that.”
Be the change you wish to see. As we rebuild, things will not turn out the same as they would have without the pandemic. This is an opportunity for us to prayerfully consider our goals and work towards achieving them. You might be working toward big or small changes in your life. After a year of so much sameness, one of my goals is to be more open to trying new things. So, recently, I decided to be adventurous and purchase wasabi-soy snack almonds instead of my usual honey roasted flavor. They were surprisingly good! And today I went for a trail run in a new location (it was too hilly for me and I had to walk a lot, but it made me feel a bit closer to an elite athlete). Those are small things, but I’m hoping that the practice of trying new things will lead me to more fun and adventure over the long-term.
Where do you see the need to rebuild in your own life and relationships? What step is God inviting you to take today?
*Just kidding Beaver believers! The author does not endorse any sports teams (unless of course it’s a team her children are on).
About the Author
Ursula and her husband Spencer have two young children, and their family enjoys playing hide-and-seek and dancing in the living room. She works as a communications and events coordinator with the University of Oregon.
You can read more from Ursula at motherbearblog.com.