Random Pandemic Thoughts
As I write this, we are still in the COVID-19 pandemic. But we are getting through. The lockdown is easing up and some businesses are opening again.
Church is still online only and may be for some time yet. I wouldn’t say that things are over, there are still plenty of areas of concern. But we are at least closer to the end.
I thought I would share some random thoughts about my experience in the pandemic so far.
I will admit that there was a bit of excitement. Although the word “unprecedented” has been over-used, we are still in historic times. There was a sense that we were a part of something big. Even if it was often boring.
The first few weeks I experienced what I called COVID-fog. I slept more, it took longer to do things, I struggled to concentrate. There were days it felt like I was walking through Jell-O.
The biggest change at the beginning was stopping physical worship services at our church. It felt really weird recording my messages with no one there. We did a live service for the first week and then switched to pre-recorded services. I usually feel some nervous energy Saturday nights but now I have already recorded my sermons by lunch on Wednesdays.
The hardest thing has been not seeing our two oldest children. They live in a group home 1.5 hours away. We have not seen them since February. This has been really hard. But we have seen some good things in them in our video chats and from what we are hearing from staff. Plus Logan is really enjoying watching our online church services.
I have had to learn some new routines and that has meant also choosing things that give me joy. That may be reading or blogging. Some if it is playing video games with my wife or watching movies and TV shows. I have even picked up some hardcover compilations of old comic books.
One of the tough things is that this pandemic has highlighted how different Amanda and I are. She is an extrovert and she has found this lockdown extremely draining. I’m an introvert and I have been okay working from home and being away from people. In fact, there are times that I have felt “peopled out” just from being around my family.
Has the lockdown been positive or negative? It depends on the day. There have been times that I have enjoyed getting things done that I normally don’t have time for. There are other days that I don’t have much emotional energy.
I am amazed at how well our children who live with us have been doing. They have truly impressed me. I take that as a sign of hope for this pandemic in general.
“Normal” may be gone but something new is coming. Not just for church and family but for everything. And we will deal with it, with God’s help.
Near the beginning of the pandemic, I recorded this podcast episode on my thoughts.
