Emerging into the Next Season

This month marks a year since our lives changed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Throughout these twelve months, we have regularly talked as a family about naming the good things: the time we’ve had together (so much time), the sourdough bread my daughter made, budget savings in several categories, and so on. As vaccinations continue and we can finally see the light at the end of this lengthy tunnel, may we consider thoughtfully and prayerfully what our new normal should look like.

Family Schedules

Our family values camping in the summer and skiing in the winter. As a result, we have never put our children in activities that would impact our weekends for long periods of time. Fortunately, none of them have ever wanted us to. Before COVID hit, we already had reasonably light weeknight schedules compared to many.

As a sense of normalcy begins to return, our family’s schedule will continue to be an area of focus for me. I’ve realized that we very much enjoy not having somewhere to be after a long day of school or work,  so we will make commitments to weeknight activities very sparingly as we emerge.

Your family may highly value sports or other activities and may not be able to wait until you can return to a full schedule. There is no right or wrong when it comes to setting priorities, but I think the key is intentionality. Consider the values and passions of your family, and together, make an intentional plan for where you should say yes and where you should say no.

Our American culture tends to value over-commitment, and I think we would be remiss not to take a step back and consider where God may want us to spend our time. Is there margin for building relationships in our neighborhoods? If we run into someone we know while we’re out, do we have the time to stop and connect with them? If we see a need, will we take the time to notice and meet that need, if possible?

Preventing Illness

When I think of other areas in which I hope to see change, our American reaction to illness comes to mind. We have historically valued “powering through,” and clearly, hand washing was not a strong value before the pandemic.

I’m hopeful that we will make more effort to prevent all illnesses. This includes normalizing staying home when we’re ill. Of course, it’s inconvenient to miss that meeting at work or have to stay home with your sick child. But may we consider the impact on others as important as our own needs.

This includes wearing a mask when staying home isn’t possible. This is already normal in other cultures, and I pray we will follow suit. Wearing a mask is a simple way to protect those around us. Of course, it’s also a choice, but as followers of Christ, I hope we’ll choose kindness and respect others who make that choice.

Finally, proactively working to avoid spreading illness includes respecting and valuing the hard-working individuals in our state and local health departments. The individuals who work in those departments are there out of compassion and care for our communities,  not because they are paid well. They are doing their best to give us good advice, and I’ve seen horrible reactions to them on social media. I pray we’ll support them and follow their advice as we move past this crisis.

Ask What God Has Taught You

Finally, I think each of us should seek God and ask him what lesson he has been trying to teach us in this season. Some of you may already know and have already selected your word of focus for 2021. Some of you may feel called to your next adventure and are taking steps to fulfill it. Some of you may have no idea what you were supposed to learn.

Regardless, God is there, waiting to be asked. Personally, I believe he has taught me the value and importance of true quality time with my kids. I would have said I did OK at this before COVID, but my oldest daughter needed me in ways I may not otherwise have seen this year. We have spent countless hours together cooking, talking, and binge-watching TV shows. I now know the right questions to ask and how to connect with her more fully, and I will be careful not to let that slip away.

God has also reminded me that his call to love others does not depend on a defined construct. My husband and I were very clearly called to start our church plant, Fringe, in 2015. We were also clearly called to close its doors in late 2020. While I continue to process and grieve that loss, the way we love others in our neighborhood and community will not change. Our focus is the same, and our impact on the kingdom is in God’s hands. It was never in ours.

God has lessons for each of us. I hope you’ll take some time to reflect and consider what your “new normal” will look like as we get closer to exiting the pandemic. To what do you want to return? To what do you want to be sure you never return? What will you do differently to help our country avoid such significant loss in the future? And what has God been saying to you in this season?

Amy Wiebe is a Jesus follower, wife, mom of three, finance director and lover of sarcasm and deep conversations with friends. She also loves camping, rafting, skiing, sewing, and hosting others in her home.

Photograph © Debby Hudson, used with permission