This was written in November 2019 (pre-“C”) Flash forward 6 months and my thoughts are the same. For some the absence of face-to-face is satisfying. Others may crave it. Despite our differing views, one truth exists~we all communicate.
The glare of the screen will never replace the light of sun. And viewing 1200-1800 pixels on a post will never replace the realness of real. The silence is deafening and the air feels stale without words.
It was practiced during my day-looking someone directly in the eye. Even nodding your head to confirm their thoughts. Maybe a tilt of the head to display interest. Even a smile to represent the humanness of the verbal exchange. There would be a pause and that meant that the speaker is graciously giving the opportunity for a listener to respond-simply ingenious.
It seems now most heads are down. Rarely will you hear a voice. But you’ll hear a click or a ding. It’s to notify. Someone is living, someone died, someone is sharing a funny, someone is wondering what you’re doing. Milestones in life are celebrated on a screen. These technology talks should bring us closer, so they say. Yes, some celebrations of life last only the length of your battery.
I look up and around-and get out. It’s with nature I have the best dialogue. The two of us prefer face-to-face. Imagine a stare-down contest. Nature always wins. Sometimes I chit-chat with the leaves and squirrels. The trees nod to show they understand me. Clearly, they’re seen as they are and don’t hide from their reality. They only know to exist in truth. During parts of the year they’ll stand completely bare. There will be no beautiful cover. For they know glorious change is just around the corner.
The wind embraces me, and sometimes sings a melody, when it’s time to hug goodbye.
How are you finding balance during these times? Life is shifting for many. For me, this last week also included a move back to my R.V. for a workkamping season. There’s comfort in my 300 sq. ft. quarantine of the campground. And for other reasons, I find my basics are met here.
Life is far from typical for everyone right now. Yet, some families are are fortunate to spend quality time with loved ones here at the campground. It’s an oasis of like-mindedness and good health (thank God for now anyway). We’re all united by at least one common fact~ NO ONE I’ve talked to has experienced anything like this in life. For some, I worry that the stress of the unknown might be worse than the virus. I take the guidelines very serious. In no way do I feel “immune” to the virus. Specifically, I have a compromised system that puts me in a higher risk category. But I refuse to have a “the sky is falling” attitude. Some will see only the negative in everything, some will see positive, some will be indifferent, some will be unrealistic, some will be healthy, some will become ill, and sadly, some have and will die. How are we meeting the basic needs of our fellow humans?
During these days~where more kids are home than in school, parents that typically work out of the home may be home, homeless might still be homeless, employed now unemployed, and no-risk occupations become high-risk with exposure~I have found comfort in the simple joys of life. You see, living in an R.V. for several years solidified my mantra of, “I don’t need much to survive.” Could we all agree that we probably have more than we need? And for some right now, the basics aren’t just being met.
Have you ever heard of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs? Abraham Maslow pegged this theory I learned in my college days. It guided me in teaching. And still resonates as time has proven these layers can overlap.
In my lifetime I’ve witnessed those that just live for work and success. And just the opposite, those that live only in a “spiritual” realm that may not focus on the bottom two tiers of this pyramid. No matter how you look at this pyramid (and how you live it), the bottom two tiers are levels that help us reach the top.
Social media can be a wonderful motivational tool that helps us FEEL that belongingness, love, friends, and humor are key to getting through these times. I don’t disagree with the many advantages of how it is helping so many. But hopefully, one will not spend so much seeking the top two pyramids to soothe the “ache” in the soul that the bottom two levels aren’t met (please do NOT USE THIS UPDATED PYRAMID😏)
I share all of this for this reason: How is your family? How is your neighbor? Friends, how are we helping others (and ourselves) meet the basic needs so that we can keep rising to our best selves?
For me, I’m having to truly limit my time watching the news and focusing on the things in which I have no control. I’ll remain diligent and smart in regards to the reality. And hopefully, we will all continue to have our basic needs met to rise to our best selves yet. May we continue to move ahead together and cement the blocks of faith that will keep our own homes on solid ground.
For too many years eyes have been down, conversations are few, and rarely a sound. Laughing or crying hitting “share” on a screen~we’ve hitched harmony with humans transmitted ~not seen.
Humans are walking alone in a crowd, shoulder to shoulder they stand, yet their heads mostly bowed. Not a prayer, not a mumble, but maybe a nod~ an occasional “Hello”, our communication seems flawed.
“Social distancing” may mean our normal is frayed~every move, every step, has to be weighed. Yet we sit all alone fused to our only device, thinking “how worse can this get?” listening to media’s advice.
Our spirits will rise seeing kindness and grace~despite the empty shelves and the panic, and the smallness of space. You’re buckled to loved ones, now what will you do? A forced isolation just may be the glue.
All mustered together feeling the sting, a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing. I’ll fasten my faith and harness my hope, with God on my side, it’s much easier to cope.
As immunity increases will we remember the days? Gatherings certainly existed and not just on Sunday’s. Put down the electronics and extend a hand, let’s listen to one another, and try to understand.
Disasters have happened since the beginning of time, although new and mysterious, I won’t shift my paradigm. I’ll tighten my trust and breathe in fresh air~check on my neighbors, and show others I care.
With Spring in the forecast and hope all around, please pray for humanity~a new bond will be found. Let’s garner our grit and talk about faith~close the gap that’s between us and meet face-to-face.
Perhaps we were already isolated~even in huge crowds. When the words of my poem came to me this morning, after prayer and meditation, I thought of the “irony” of isolation. There are so many times I witness distraction. Many people just exist as if “in a daze”. Families that would go out to eat would just sit with little conversation and most would be using their cell phones. No, this is not the case for everyone. But I see our social skills declining in certain situations. Social distancing isn’t really “new” in regards to how we’re “out of touch” with humanity at times. Maybe by social distancing we may become “in touch”.
Please allow me to switch gears to share a bit about my area. Living in a tourist area is definitely interesting. Today, after distancing myself in the woods, I wanted to “investigate” the vibe of our area during this unprecedented time. Although famous for its live entertainment (and not just country music folks), the Branson area was best known for the novel “Shepherd of the Hills” written in 1907 by Harold Bell Wright (http://www.branson.com/learn/general-branson-info/branson-facts) Typically by spring break, 76 Country Boulevard (as known to many of us as the Branson “Strip”) is jam-packed with cars. No, it was not bumper-to-bumper, BUT THERE WERE STILL MANY! If you are looking for a family-oriented fun destination, I’d highly recommend you visit our “neck of the woods”.
While driving I was smiling. 🙂 “Look at all the families here celebrating life together!” Thank you Branson, MO for doing your part in the global attempt to slow the spread. And a BIG thank you to Dunkin Donuts for the yummy sugar-free raspberry latte (B.T.W. when asked if business was slowing down, the young man declared, “It’s just the opposite! Apparently everyone needs donuts!” Well,..duh.
It makes perfect sense that some of the theaters have temporarily closed. YET, some of them remain open limiting their seating capacity and/or distancing the guest seating. Bravo! Lucky for us, there are miniature golf courses nearly on every block of the strip. Thank you to the tons of visitors that are spreading good cheer, despite their change in plans! If you choose to throw caution “to the wind”, health officials across the country still urge visitors to be informed, wise, and WORSH THOSE HANDS! (I’m using my southern and proud SW lingo to emphasize) 😏
Speaking of wind…there was a beautiful southern warm wind blowing in SW MO today. And the trees and I did not keep our distance. Their arms reached out to me and gave me a healthy embrace.
In the park, picnics were being enjoyed by many (tables just the perfect distance 😁), hammocks were hanging in the forest, and children laughing and playing. Simply put, nature is a healer!
If you believe in the power of prayer, remember all of the workers without a job. With businesses slower than usual, unemployment will be very high. My heart and prayers go to everyone not able to make an income during these times.
I’m not the first born, nor the last. I’m in the middle (within five minutes of my birth, I beckoned my twin to follow 😉). Today is Wednesday, the middle of the week. For sake of argument, let’s pretend that Missouri is right in the middle of the States (supposedly we are “Midwestern”).
To add to my medium (writing that is….), I’m middle-aged. Being in the middle has had its shares of ups and downs. Honestly, I don’t mind being in the middle…..at all.
There were times I put myself in the middle of situations I shouldn’t~and times I was put there without extra work on my part. Haven’t we all been placed “in the middle” at times? The middle of…
arguments
politics
work situations
birth order
relationships
Recently, I submitted an article to a magazine located in the West (I will NOT name it). A few weeks transpired before a message was sent. To paraphrase, “Your writing is not OUR style. BUT I think you will find the right platform.” To paraphrase the paraphrase, “You’re not liberal enough.”
Another recent submission was for an essay contest (publishing company located in the EAST). The response was eloquent, detailed, and encouraging. Yes, a rejection~but, oh so sweet with feedback. To quote specifically, “You have a story to tell. Keep writing and keep submitting.” But as I read what they DO publish, I can tell my stories don’t have a political “flavor”.
A friend told me, “your writing is typical to what I’ve read in Reader’s Digest.” She nailed it in many ways. In my twenties I wrote an essay about my Grandfather Wilson (to note, Grandpa “scared the hell out of me”~thankfully, Grandma was there to ease the sting and soften the life-changing commitment I made to follow Christ) Reader’s Digest never published the essay. Nor did I “make it” as a children’s book author as I had dreamed. Rejection started early. To say it doesn’t sting would be false. There was a time in my life that the feeling of rejection took its toll. It’s wasn’t “good” and it wasn’t “bad”…..well, I was in the middle. I guess it was just “ok”.
It’s been preached that you can’t be in the middle. Take a stand! Choose a side! “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything”,….yada, yada, yada. Just because I choose to stay in the middle doesn’t mean I don’t take a stand on truth.
I’m just a small-town girl that has traveled to the far West. And to the East. And to some other countries. I choose to sometimes stand in the middle of the road. I might get ran over by the left~or ran over by the right. It would encourage me immensely to find others that choose to stand in a position where they can see each direction. Sadly, some don’t even really choose (using their own mind) where they stand based on belief~but what media says or what others say is the right direction. To some folks, being in the middle is not…..extreme enough.
A breakdown of a recent conversation with Jesus.
“Whom do you love?” , I ask.
“Everyone”, he replies. “Don’t get me wrong, there are things I hate.” I used to gulp with guilt when he said this. Not anymore.
“Do you want me to the right or to the left Jesus”?, I ask confusingly.
Softly, he replies with a smile, “I don’t care which side you’re on, as long as you’re on my side.” 🤍
I stand in the middle of life loving what’s to the right & what’s to the left~as long as it aligns with the love of Christ. I feel comfort in the middle. It’s here that I’ve grown the most. In every pic below, I’m in the middle. The middle of my sons, the trail, cute baby goats I once owned, the country, the roads, the river, the air, and friends. Don’t worry if you’re in the middle of something. It’s ok. And know this~embracing the uncertainty of being in the “middle” might lead you to the best life yet.
While Flannel with Faith is where I share my heart, Finley River Publishing is where you'll find my book and the shop collection. Read the story behind the collection here!
