Happy Wednesday, friends and fam! ❤
Okay, so first off, I highly recommend reading this article (click here for link): That Discomfort You're Feeling is Grief. It's well written, and the collective grief idea applies to everyone, even those still in the stubborn denial stage.
My favorite part: “The loss of normalcy; the fear of economic toll; the loss of connection. This is hitting us and we’re grieving. Collectively. We are not used to this kind of collective grief in the air... There is something powerful about naming this as grief. Emotions need motion. Fighting it doesn’t help because your body is producing the feeling... It’s absurd to think we shouldn’t feel grief right now. Let yourself feel the grief and keep going.”
I love that validation. People need that right now! This season is hard and new and confusing and frustrating and scary. And we can acknowledge that without going to extremes or being overwhelmed by our feelings. Right now, we're just beginning to see things we fear become the present-day reality for many Americans. The number of confirmed cases and the death toll are rising (click HERE for up-to-date info specific to Oklahoma). Yesterday, Governor Stitt issued an order for the Oklahoma counties with confirmed cases of Coronavirus (this affected 19 counties at the time). Today, less than 24 hours since he issued that order, the number of counties has jumped up to 27, including 5 positive cases in Creek County! That. is. crazy. (And we know this is a low report because of the inadequate number of test kits available.) For those still in denial: No one has immunity to this, some are more at risk of death than others, and this thing is spreading rapidly.
We've currently closed the courthouse to the public, but all the employees are still coming in on altered, rotating schedules. My mind has been busy trying to process all of this, so I haven't written much lately, but I'm back now - huzzah! lol I listened to a podcast where they talked about how the initial adrenaline rush of preparing for and adjusting to this change is wearing off now, so the small losses we're all experiencing are feeling more real now, along with the continued threat of major loss and the mysterious ending/return to "normal" date. So as the article posted above says, have grace for yourself if you are struggling with grief or feeling overwhelmed right now. This is a massive adjustment for everyone, and honest vulnerability is refreshing. And even though some beautiful things are coming out of this crisis and there are many things to be thankful for, it's okay and healthy to grieve the sharp changes that are difficult and painful for you. You can be thankful and sad at once, and hold space for both emotions.
One of my neighbors started an online prayer group for Jenks neighborhoods, and it's been really encouraging and awesome to be a part of that and see Christians who live near me coming together in a virtual way to pray for each other! Yesterday, one of my Jenks neighbors posted that her dad is having a triple bypass surgery today, and none of them are allowed to come visit him until he's released from the hospital. As someone who spent several nights staying in hospitals to help my mom as she recovered after major surgeries, that is such a terrible, heart-wrenching thought to me. I fully understand why they're taking those precautions, but it would be incredibly rough for any patient and for all the people who love them. Same with the nursing homes and assisted living facilities. It's lonely enough in there when you have occasional visitors, and with no one able to come check on them, I'm praying the staff will have extra compassion. And I'm saddened by the obvious reality that that will not always be the case and some will be mistreated.
On the topic of hospitals, it feels very surreal to see American hospitals becoming overcrowded and the staff overworked, stressed, and poorly equipped to protect themselves and fight this pandemic. My talks with Sarah (my PICU nurse friend) have been eye-opening about the inexcusable shortage of protective equipment for our doctors and nurses, along with the shortage of ventilators, etc. for patients in urgent need of life-saving care. What in the world? Where do we live right now? Let's step it up ASAP, American manufacturers!! All that to say... far above all the cancelled trips, sports games, and routine inconveniences, many people close by you are dealing with legitimate life-and-death-level fear and stress these days. And the "peak" number of patients needing hospital care for this COVID-19 virus is not expected for at least another month here in Oklahoma, which is a truly exhausting thought. So even if the medical part of this crisis is not directly affecting your life at this point, it's a really great idea to stop right now and pray for our hospital staff, their worried families, everyone needing emergency care, and the family members who won't get to visit them!! (And for those manufacturing things that will save lives!)
*I'm writing two posts today, since I have a number of deeper, serious thoughts to process, along with a number of lighter, happier things to share, and they don't really mesh well together. Clearly, this is the light-and-fluffy post. ;-)
So my final deep thought for today is this: There is a lot that is outside our control right now, and that can feel scary, but we all control our reactions, and God gives us WISDOM!! Or the choice to turn away from it toward death (see Proverbs 1:20-33, click here for link). This is not a particularly deep or new thought, just one many seem to be unaware of lately. Christians choosing to ignore most of the science-based warnings and/or government orders are often quick to boldly proclaim that they're not gonna live in fear because God is good and He gives us faith... and it's a level of ignorance and self-focus that saddens me. (And for the record, it's not making God look appealing to anyone watching that behavior.) God gives us faith and joy, certainly, but He also gives us wisdom, patience, self-control, and a sound mind. Ignoring basic science and refusing to change your regular routine is putting yourself and others at higher risk, and although God is good, He rarely interrupts the natural law of sowing and reaping, and that should be a sobering thought. So I would encourage you to pay attention to the facts and pray and seek wisdom from God, then act accordingly!
Praying that we let ourselves feel this and grieve whatever temporary or permanent losses we may be facing. Praying we feel loved and supported, and that we will choose wisdom and find peace and hope in Christ rather than stewing in fear or anxiety about what lies ahead. Also praying we will notice and appreciate all the small joys and blessings surrounding us in this hard season! ❤
Mmmkay, that's all for now.
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