Dear Friends in Christ,
This is certainly an interesting time we find ourselves in! So much has changed in our world in such a small amount of time. Of course, things are always changing in the world but the amount of change and the pace of the change over the last several weeks has been very unsettling for many people.
My neighbor put up a sign on her family’s refrigerator that says, “You are NOT hungry! You are just BORED! Go find something to CLEAN!” Besides being funny, there is some wisdom in those words. When our routine is disturbed such as it has been lately, our “purpose” gets upset as well. We need purpose in our lives. We are comforted by having things to do that matter such as finding one more place in our house that can use some tidying up as my neighbor suggested to her family with the sign on her refrigerator. We all do better in our lives when we have things to do that we enjoy, things that we do well and things that have value. Having those things to accomplish brings balance to our life and makes it easier to accept all the change that is happening around us.
So, here’s a suggestion for adding more purpose to your life while we are going through this crazy time. Each day, try to find three things to accomplish – one thing for yourself, one thing for someone else and one thing for God. First, look for one thing for yourself. It may be a project you’ve been meaning to get to or a book you want to start reading or going for a walk to get some exercise. Find something that you can do that when you look back on it at the end of the day, it gives you joy to know you successfully completed it. Secondly, look for something you can do for someone else. Maybe it’s writing a letter or calling someone you know who could use a good dose of friendship. Perhaps there’s a kind act you can do for someone in your life. The possibilities are endless and they do not need to be huge, just something that lets the other person know you care about them. It can even be saying a prayer for someone you don’t know, such as a person who is suffering from the pandemic with illness, death or loss of work. Lastly, look for one thing you can do that will please God. Again, there are lots of ways to do this and God will help guide you when you ask for His help by saying something like, “Lord, what is one thing I can do today that will please you?” Then just sit for a moment in silence and see what ideas God places on your heart. It may be to start reading one of the four Gospels -- Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. Perhaps God is calling you to spend a few minutes in prayer or make some change in your life or to forgive someone who has hurt you. Just ask God to help guide you. He delights in you asking and will never fail to answer this prayer.
Then at the end of the day, regardless of what the news is on television, you will be able to look back at three things you have accomplished – one thing for yourself, one thing for someone else and one thing for God.
God bless you, keep you and those you love safe and give you peace!
Deacon Jerry