Another week has come and gone. A week of staying home, except for a quick drive-thru or curbside pickup meal from a local restaurant. A week of not seeing friends and family except on Zoom, FaceTime, or from sitting a distance apart. A week of having the local grocery store deliver to my door. Another week of watching my church on the computer. However, I have realized that this “new normal” is just becoming normal. In a way, I have gotten more from church and Bible Study when I’m comfortably sitting at home in my cargo shorts and a t-shirt; munching on a Pop-Tart and drinking my coffee. It is nice. Of course, I miss the physical fellowship and hugs of my church family, but that time will come again someday. 

  I am one of the medically fragile, as the professionals say. Several underlying health issues are keeping me sheltered-in-place until mid-June. I’ve heard a lot of folks online and on the television complaining about having to stay in, but it’s still rather nice to me. I have time to read and catch up on my Kindle books, time to play music, time to sit on the deck or the front walk to watch nature. And, to not think. Just sit and enjoy.

  Yet, it is still weird. Weird to not be able to hop in my car and go anywhere I want to go. Weird to have a face mask hanging from my rearview mirror, hand wipes in the console, and using my little stylus to punch numbers at the ATM. Weird. Life as we knew it has changed. Whether we go kicking and screaming into this new way of life, or we just accept and adapt to it. I chose to adapt, and I am not sure I want to fully go back to the “old normal.” In many ways, my life is better … finally.

  I think about when Jesus was born over 2,000 years ago. For the new 30 years, life in Israel and the region rocked all along normally. Then, for the next three years, things got weird. All the normalcy and rules of the Old Testament were being disrupted and for those who accepted the “new,” received a new life of abundancy in God. But it was weird. Nothing like anything to which they were used to. Hundreds of Laws no longer had to be obeyed, only to Love God as you love your neighbor. Love others and help them in times of trouble.

  Someday coming, the current rules will be gone and we will be able to return to life as we once lived it. How will you be different? Will you return to the hustle and bustle of life or will we live a little slower taking more care of ourselves? As for me, I hope to keep the quietness and calmness where I can hear and feel God’s presence in my life. I hope to keep more and more music and writing in my life. These have been my biggest comfort during these weird days. Which are now no longer so weird for me. 

  I would never want to discount the horrible disease which has caused all these changes in our lives. The virus has touched so many lives; some of which are friends and neighbors. All those affected are in my thoughts and prayers and especially the nurses, doctors, and other medical staff. The first responders and anyone who puts their own lives at risk are true heroes and I am so proud to see these people in my community and can have the opportunity to thank them for all they do. 

  God does not want us to have a weird life, just a life of hope and faith in Him; trusting Him to take care of us. 

  And for today my friends, this has been the gospel according to Jimmy.