Where Do We Go From Here?

When this is over, you and I will look back and wonder how on earth we made it through such an unprecedented time in our lives. We are still shaking our heads, aren’t we?

Questions race unchecked across the forefront of our minds; questions like these: “How did we get here? Where did this come from? Will this happen again? Will this happen again soon? How quickly will there be a vaccine? How can I cope with the pain of loss? Will life ever be the same again?”

And, along with the questions, we are forced to face the realities—life moments have been lost.

I think of the high school senior who has lived since she was a little girl imagining the night she would go to prom with her Prince Charming. (Life moment lost.) I consider the mom who birthed that baby boy, and knew one day she would sit in the audience to proudly watch him walk across the stage, and accept his university degree. (Life moment lost.) I picture the dad who pitched a baseball, year in and year out, to a hopeful lad in the backyard, and anticipated the night his son would take the mound for the College World Series (Life moment lost.) I ache with the parents denied the privilege to be near their only daughter as she gave birth to her firstborn. (Life moment lost.) And I grieve to consider the granddaughter who never missed a family gathering, and yet was forced to bid farewell to her beloved grandfather through the chill of a cold a computer screen. (Life moment lost.)

And, as we acknowledge the loss of life passages, you and I willingly admit that our upside-down life has nudged us to get a number of perspectives right-side-up again. These come to mind: With a fresh tenderness, we acknowledge that life is a gift, and …life is a vapor. Health is an unspeakable treasure. Relationships sweeten our sojourn, and going to work is an absolute privilege.

So, while we prepare to walk out from under the smothering blanket of COVID-19, we will never fully walk away from it. COVID-19 stories, lessons, memories, and heartaches have been woven into the fabric of our society, and into the fabric of our souls. We are different; we are forever altered.

An entirely different blog post was prepared for this week, but somehow the Holy Spirit brought me back to my computer to start over. My rewrite flows out of a desire to stop at this moment, and express gratitude to you, dear reader. Thank you. Thank you for being here to journey with me. I needed you, and you have brought light to my life in the darkness of a pandemic. I savor the treasured fact that you and I have partnered together in an unprecedented time in history.

Now,

Where Do We Go From Here?

We move forward Living With Eternal Intentionality® into the future that God has for us. For only in our Living With Eternal Intentionality do hard questions find their answers, and lost moments discover their redemption. Indeed, only in Living With Eternal Intentionality do you and I lay hold of a reason for living at all. “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent” (John 17:3).

Yours for Living With Eternal Intentionality - I love you, Debby Mark 12:28-30

Holy Ground at the End of My Sidewalk

YES! Larry is back.

Day 14 dawned, and my husband emerged from #Radicalisolation a weak, but joyful man! Glad to be alive, he wanted his coffee. God be praised; the worst was behind us.

Now, as we move forward, with the rest of our pandemic-stricken globe, I take a story with me:

The Story of the Flowers

One evening, as I disinfected the kitchen counter, conversation with the Lord flowed. My long day was finally over; as a weary caregiver, I relished the thought of crawling in bed and to read a few pages before turning out my lights.

Aware of His presence, I talked to Jesus about the flowers.

“Lord, I long to have flowers. I yearn for the beauty and color they bring. But, I can’t leave the house to go buy them. Would you please speak to someone and have them bring flowers—from the store, from their yard—it matters not … just flowers? Would You do this?”

My love for flowers runs deep; I savor the simple quiet beauty they bring. Particularly now, in our home battling sickness, their absence created an ache.

You probably know where this is going.

The next day, another in the drawn out stretch of disease fighting days, I received a phone call from a friend. “Debby, I would like to drop off food for you. I have homemade potpies, and I have soup. Would that help?”

The thought brought tears to my eyes, and I responded, “What a kind gesture. Oh, yes! This would meet a huge need. Thank you so much.”

Sure enough, within the hour, an abundant food supply appeared at the end of my sidewalk. The offering included enough soup to feed an army, and a supply of potpies to rival the best chefs in the land.

But that is not all.

On top of the food rested—not one, but two—bouquets of flowers, pink tulips and white tulips.

One bouquet came from the store,

and

The other bouquet came from her yard.

My thoughtful friend served without knowing about my heartfelt plea to Jesus the night before: “Would You please speak to someone and have them bring flowers—from the store, from their yard—it matters not … just flowers? Would You do this?” But she brought a glorious answer to prayer on His behalf.

I stood breathless at the end of my sidewalk, aware that I stood on holy ground … my Savior, my flowers, and me. Thank you, Sweet Jesus. “Out of the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another” (John1:16). On this day, the fullness of His grace spelled F-L-O-W-E-R-S.

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4 ESV).

“And my God shall supply all of your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

What does His grace spell for you today?

What story of His provision amidst COVID-19 will you take forward?

COVID-19 Now Personal

Trust me; you don’t want to make this visit.

‘Out there’ suddenly became ‘right here’ The look on my husband’s face told me more than I wanted to know. A digital reading on a white thermometer altered the course of our lives. In a nanosecond—out there suddenly became right here—and the global pandemic of COVID-19 became personal.

Larry’s temperature, aches, chills, cough, and loss of taste called for a battle plan. Immediately, he moved into the guest room and began radical isolation. Shortly thereafter, a call to our doctor confirmed our concern.

“I think you have COVID-19.” A thorough medical exam—inclusive of a chest x-ray—eliminated flu, strep, and pneumonia. The doctor said, “I think you have COVID-19, and I believe you will test positive.” This ominous news sank deeper as we drove through the parking lot for Larry’s testing.

And then we waited; days would pass before we received the verdict. Our posture was neither Pollyanna nor Peter-panic. Yet, we sensed the sober reality of our situation. At every turn, what-if needed to submit to even-if.

Afternoon Tea to help punctuate his long days in isolation

Candlelight dinner served on paper products to reduce contamination

While his symptoms ebbed and flowed, I delivered food to his door and kept the backpack ready should he need an ambulance in the middle of the night. Seeking God and navigating the unknown, I fought the urge to plan his funeral. And, an army of prayer warriors marched regularly into the Throne Room to intercede on his behalf.

Vitamins!

Backpack ready with vital information inside, should an ambulance be needed in the middle of the night

Finally … Breaking the quiet of Friday afternoon, Larry vigorously rang a bell announcing the news, “Negative!” Our doctor said, “Your test is negative; you do not have COVID-19. Your body is fighting an upper respiratory infection.” WOW! We praised God, and breathed a holy whew. With heartfelt relief, I set out on my walk with a fresh energy. AHH! The sun shone brighter and the birds sang sweeter.

Then, it hit me; our COVID-19 journey was not over.

Larry’s radical isolation must continue a full 14-days. As our physician explained, he incurred intense exposure to COVID-19 at the medical clinic for the exam and again at the hospital for the x-ray. This reality mandated the furtherance of his extreme quarantine. Sigh.

Radical isolation means he lives alone behind a closed door in one room. For this season, we:

Pray fervently that he did not contract the virus at the doctor’s office or at the hospital.

Soak up the adoring love of our family – delivering delicious meals and abundant groceries, and bringing cheery conversations underneath the window of the quarantined patient. #Granddaddyfighton

Embrace the commitment of our Athletes in Action team – convening a Zoom prayer meeting to fight the battle with us.

Appreciate the concern of friends and neighbors – offering to do whatever possible to lighten our load.

Thank you so much! Your kindness is from the Hand of God to us. “Truly I tell you, whatsoever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me” (Matt. 25:40).

Grateful for this deep bench, Larry and I “Shelter in Place” in the Shadow of the Almighty! (Psalm 91:1) And, we drink from the fountain of the Supernatural Resources God makes available to His children:

His Word The Bible gives specific instruction for crisis management. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4: 6-7 NASB).

His Strength “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9a).

His Provision “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).

His Purpose This challenge is for His glory and our good. “And we know that God causes to work all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 NASB). “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings” (Philippians 3:10 NASB).

God willing, Larry will emerge from 14 days alone as a healthy man on Easter Sunday! Until then,

Our prayer:

Lord, please make us good stewards of this experience. By His grace, may this make us more like Him.

Our song: Like a River Glorious

Like a river glorious is God's perfect peace, Over all victorious, in its bright increase, Perfect, yet it floweth fuller every day, Perfect, yet it groweth deeper all the way.

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.

Hidden in the hollow of His blessed hand, Never foe can follow, never traitor stand, Not a surge of worry, not a shade of care, Not a blast of hurry touch the spirit there.

Every joy or trial falleth from above, Traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love, We may trust Him fully all for us to do, They who trust Him wholly find Him wholly true. -Frances R. Havergal

We still wait. And …while we wait, we worship. Will you join us?

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

How has COVID-19 affected your life and the life of those you love?

What would you share with someone who is yet to encounter this crisis on a personal level?