I'm not sure my skin has ever crawled more. I hear it on the daily news reports. We hear it said in presidential and governor briefings. And, every television advertisement in between utters those two little words. Unprecedented times.
I'm sure I get chills because these two words are the mark of this season we are in. I, personally, was caught off guard. Six weeks ago I was in South Carolina spending time with my family. We went shopping. We ate in restaurants. We had a great time. The Friday of that week we made our way down Interstate-20 to return to home. Bayley and I stopped at every Chickfila the route had to offer. It was as if with each state we blazed through, corona was taking its toll just as quickly. We went from one state where we received trays with our food -- to the next where we were only served bags. And not to mention, the explanation to a sweet little toddler that her beloved playground was shut down for cleaning. Then it went to just a drive-thru, and like that, all things had changed. I know this is such a poor example, but I can't help but be astonished at how quickly things changed in the instant of a single cross-South road trip.
I want to remember this time. I want to remember my frustrations over telling my sweet girl she couldn't go to school. I want to remember how sad I was for college athletes and seniors not seeing an end to their time at college. I needed closure. I'm a stickler for some closure. I hated seeing my favorite Today Show hosts operating from separate places. I want to remember how badly I wanted to walk the aisles of Hobby Lobby and have an Easter egg hunt for my girl.
But somewhere in the middle of all this, something changed in me. It wasn't super significant. It wasn't a shout-it-from-the-rooftop type deal. But ever so slowly things are changing. I do believe the words of my pastor are true. I'll have to paraphrase. But basically Pastor Greg said, God is using this time to pry us away from this world -- to turn us to eternity.
Yes. Maybe that's it.
The things of this world --- The places I frequent on the regular that have been taken away from me are no longer an issue. I whined and complained for a week or so. I even mourned. But those things have lost some of their importance because they don't matter. We've enjoyed the slower days. We've enjoyed not having to be anywhere. Though many are sick and have been affected by this virus, God is gaining glory as we are being humbled and pried away from the things we hold dear in this world.
It's not easy; that much is sure. But slowly, ever so slowly, we are being prepared for our eternal home.
We live in unprecedented times for a sure and final future.
