In this current crisis, many thoughts can enter our minds at times flooding in. We can’t control what is happening around us. We can only control how we respond. A theme for me is focus. What I focus on is so important.
For example, I needed to adjust my thought life in response to my classes being canceled. As of today, I still do not know if I will stay get paid or not. At first a recurring thought kept plaguing me of, “I have lost everything.”
Such thoughts can lead to a downward spiral into depression, anxiety, doubt and despair. We are encouraged in 2 Corinthians 10 to:
“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
So I prayed about it giving it to Jesus. I also shared my situation with friends from church.
I am a people person. I love being with my students in the classroom, going to coffee shops and interacting with people, telling jokes to the people who work at the small markets I frequent, and LOVE going to church. Being single and living alone the stay at home and social distancing thing could really get to me. But since I am in all three categories of at risk- over 60, have asthma, and have other chronic illnesses- it is important for me to self isolate.
Thankfully we can interact with people via social media. I video chatted with family members on Zoom last night. I will video chat with a friend from Vietnam, who is now living in Texas, using facebook video chat this afternoon. I hope to video chat with many of my friends in the coming days and weeks.
Listening to worship music helps me to focus on Jesus. This morning as I was listening to a playlist of worship songs on youtube some creative ideas came to me. My creative side unfolds much more in the presence of Jesus. Praise and worship can help thwart off despair such as Isaiah 61 talks about:
“and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”
So my plan is to start each day the same way I almost always do which is to listen to worship music and pray. I also plan to spend more time writing. I might become one of those bloggers who posts two times a day while self isolating to avoid the virus. Hopefully more short story ideas will come to me too. And there is a book to finish.
What are some things that are helping you at this time?
Thank you for reading. God Bless.
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