The last year and a half have been in a word; hard. The pandemic has left us disconnected, grieving, uneasy, fractured, and wondering what is most important in life.
While things were seeming to get back to normal as the vaccine was administered throughout the spring, the summer left us with much hope of what is to come. For many those hopes and dreams have been fulfilled with vacations, traveling, and seeing loved ones. For others there is still hope and trepidation, an unknowing about the future.
Here is what I have observed, those who were able to keep connection with others, family, friends, co-workers, faith-communities, etc. have faired better than others.
For me, it has been a struggle. While I am thankful for the friends we have gained here in Colorado we have still struggled with that sense of strong community. Maybe we were spoiled in The Woodlands and Abilene. Maybe the pandemic put a big wrench in everyone's openness. Maybe at this stage of life it takes more work.
I am thankful that we have had some friends come to visit us lately. There is always comfort in having connectedness for long periods of time with people you have been through the "stuff" with before. I'm also thankful for the new friendships forming, for church connections, and neighbors who care. Without these connections we would certainly feel like we would dry up.
As we look forward to fall I know that there is a need for intentionality, for connection, discernment, and for enjoying the season. Even as I write this my heart is heavy as I have one friend on the West Coast and a couple of friends in Texas in the hospital due to Covid. My hope is in the Lord for them, for us, and for what is to come.
