What's So Bad About Social Distancing?

So asks an introvert. I have everything I need: my library app to sign out ebooks, Amazon, thousands of movies on Netflix, dishes to wash by hand because I blew up our dishwasher, a business plan to refresh, a large bag of Peet's Major Dickason's coffee to French press, a box of delicious dry red wine (which, admittedly, will need to be replaced in another week or so), and a puppy that keeps me busy (hmmm, where is that Yosemite Sam?) Its pretty much business as usual for me.

On one hand, I'm glad to be "forced" to limit the rat race of society and the hectic aspects of everyday life. It's like the result of a blizzard that we never got this Winter. I love the way a blizzard simplifies our everyday life in some ways - we are almost forced to stay home, to use what resources we have, reduce excess, be content to be cozy and adopt a slower pace. "We must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from our lives" so replied Dallas Willard, (an author on Christian Spirituality and a 48 year philosophy professor at USC) to author and pastor John Ortberg in answer to "what is the one thing that will bring new energy to spiritual life?" Willard went on to say that "hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our world today." I have certainly noticed this within myself. The pace at my job can be rushed. Our patient schedule keeps us busy many days. And I like being busy, I don't appreciate lag time. It makes me nervous, lol! But I abhor the stress of overwhelming busyness - where there are a hundred balls to juggle and many of them threatening to fall to the ground. This control freak does not like juggling. I'm terrible at it. And I become angry. Just ask my poor coworkers. Pride is at the center of being a control freak - and not the good kind of pride. So once I admitted to myself that I cannot do it all, that there are responsibilities that I need to let go of because they were never meant to be mine, and once I trained my mind to "eliminate hurry", my stress level has reduced greatly. I'm a nicer person. I may be busy, but I am not flustered. Of course, this can be quite a struggle at times and I still battle with control freak Emily. She rears her ugly head while in the narrow aisles at the grocery store, stuck behind a slow elderly person who has positioned her cart in just the right way that it blocks any access around it while she hyper focuses on the shelves in front of her (thus ignoring the waiting stream of customers in her periphery), searching for Mccormick Seasoning's brown gravy mix. ***breathe slow and deep girl, remember, eliminate all hurry....eliminate all hurry....eliminate all hurry***

On the other hand -

I. Need. Out. I need a hike in the woods. Fresh air. Physical exertion that doesn't come from a workout on a treadmill inside my stale house. I'm tired of Winter. I hate March and always have. By the time March comes around, I'm clawing at my walls and taking macrophotography shots of anything green and colorful that I find in the few minutes that I can bear the outside cold weather.

I need focused warm sunbeams to infuse my body, soul, and mind and March is still significantly Winter here in Pennsylvania which makes me resentful and mean. I'm trying to continue the Hygge way of thriving in Winter and in this encouraged time of social distancing but I'm ready for camping season and the beach. I'm ready to enjoy my canvased covered back deck - drinking coffee in the mornings there and sharing good conversations with friends and family in the evenings.

My hubby knows my desperation and in trying to prevent me from hiking alone, has offered to go with me. But I have to wait until he wakes up. Waiting.....waiting.....waiting.....

Good things come to those who wait, right? There is a verse in Ecclesiastes which says, "everything beautiful in its time" (3:11). Things are happening within this season of waiting. If trees would produce leaves too early, they would block pollen from traveling, significantly reducing the beauty that pollen helps to create. There are things that are happening in this time of wait that we may not be aware of, but impact greatly the outcome of what we are waiting for.

So, I continue to choose to eliminate hurry from my life - even in this time of social distancing and slow crawl out of March. I will remember God's promise "...everything beautiful in its time..." And I will feed my soul on what it craves by getting outside when I can, eating a little more healthy (I ate a whole apple already today!), texting friends/family, taking care of family and patients, listening to music, taking pictures, slowly drinking a cup of coffee in the mornings while chatting with God, and trying to find good movies on Netflix...

What are the ways you are going to fill this time? How are you getting through? Though we may be separated, let's not be alone!