The new normal

My guess is you have already adjusted to many things that are the "new normal". 

You are missing sitting at the ball field or watching your favorite teams on TV.  

You are running through the drive through with your spouse and sitting in the parking lot having your "date" instead of holding hands across the table.

You are working from your computer with virtual chats and online meetings.

You are wearing masks, gloves,  and you know what the letters PPE stand for.

You search every store for Clorox wipes and toilet paper only to find the shelves empty.

Your church  now consists of  the pastor preaching his sermon to an online following of hearts and likes.

You don't hug.

You don't hold hands.

You don't touch your face. 

Your kids are not in school.

You try to homeschool.

You give up on trying to homeschool.

Whew!  It is a lot to adjust to...this new version of "normal".

But have these things also become the "norm" now?

You are cooking healthy meals and eating them around the family table.

You have roasted hot dogs by an open fire.

You have been home long enough to clean out closets and do home improvement projects.

You have walked and petted your dog to a point they are running away from you!

You have read a book.

You have baked cookies with your kids.

You are checking on your elderly parents...daily.

As much change as this virus has ushered in, all of it is not so bad.  I for one have looked at the busyness of the family and wondered how we got there. For some time I have observed families rushing from one activity to another and I wondered if things could ever get back to something a little less complex;  Something that would require a couple of post- it note reminders instead of  a complex calendar of dates and events.  Something that would not only slow our minds down, but help us really reconnect.

Then the world put up a "Sorry, we're closed" sign and just like that, we stopped.

Interesting that something that has supposedly taken away our connection might be the very thing that helps us reconnect.

Just like you, I've wondered how we are going to get back to our "norm".  But, do we have to add back everything?  Sure I want to eat out at our favorite restaurant again, but I treasure the time spent around our kitchen table. Of course sports need to a be a part of our lives, but does it have to take center stage and will we still have time for our nightly UNO match? By all means let's go back to our churches and worship together but have we discovered that we are reaching many more people by offering it online as well?

 And when we are finally able to add back a hug? Look out...I'm going to linger and hold on way longer than the 3 second shoulder pat would dictate. Waaay longer.

We can look back on this one day and lament all that we lost. We can complain and cry and fuss over what it took.   But, if we are intentional, we can hear our children one day recall the spring that Mama and Daddy played ball with them every afternoon. If we keep our wits about us, our children can learn to bake our famous banana bread.  If we have a mind to, we can hang up a hammock and swing a little.

If we don't lose our minds, we can take back family. 

Who's with me? Let's welcome back the "new normal".

Every wound healed.  Every child, a home.