One of my favorite episodes of Laverne & Shirley, an old TV show about two whacky female friends; is when the main characters save every penny so they can take a dream vacation to “near-Mexico.” Not Mexico. Not New Mexico. But “near” Mexico.

Envision with me all the silliness:

Their luxurious hotel room becomes a construction debacle with only three completed walls.
The exotic swimming pool consists of a blow-up pool in the hotel lobby.
The tropical weather turns into an unseasonable hurricane.

There is no real moral to Laverne and Shirley’s vacation story (it’s a sitcom with no obligation) except to notice each of the two character’s perspectives. Laverne calls the place a dump, thinks the pool is stupid and complains about unseasonable weather. Shirley, on the other hand, keeps her chin up and finds bright spots in all the absurdity.

I share all this with you to ask if you think this sounds a little like our own expectations during COVID.

In 2020, we certainly gave up exciting and potentially wonderful experiences only to replace them with “near fun” opportunities. We engaged in new hobbies and habits that seemed short-lived or felt second-best.

For many of us, it’s been difficult to say we’ve thrived in the past year. But somehow, we survived and honestly, some days that felt like a win.

However, some have truly thrived during this time. They’ve taken the Shirley approach, so to speak.

That’s why — in the coming blog posts — I thought it might be fun to share some thoughts about what I’ve witnessed about thriving over the past year. What does it look like when you choose to thrive, not just survive, even when circumstances try to tell you otherwise?

One thing I’m learning is thriving — rather than just surviving — can be a real struggle. That’s not only during COVID, but at other times in my life.

I’ve been calling this past year a mountain journey. I’d love for you to join me on it, no matter where you are on your own personal journey.

My hope is that as we learn together, you will begin to say with me, “Life isn’t just what happens at the mountain top, it’s also the climb and the descent that make it both Wild & Wonderful!”

I’ve been keeping a bottle of sparkling grape juice and a container of whipped cream in my fridge just in case a celebration is needed. When I awoke on January 1, 2021, I knew both would be called into action.

The television morning shows were quick to forget the events of this past year and pretend they never happened. I started feeling bad for 2020. What if good things really occurred but we forgot to celebrate them?

This past year, we experienced sadness, confusion, poor health, isolation, and other disappointments; too many to list. We spent plenty of time lamenting over our struggles and challenges. Sure, hardship tests us, but it also shapes us and makes us grow. Remembering this, I wanted to give 2020 the respect it deserved.

I realized there were actually things to celebrate even if I’d forgotten them. I asked God to help me remember, especially the little things. Why? So I could focus on His faithfulness. It didn’t take long to see the biggest reason to celebrate 2020 comes from something Jesus said, “…and surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

What a great reminder, throughout all of 2020, Jesus was there, traveling with me, regardless the direction circumstances of the year took me. What a reason to celebrate!

Now what?  I’m off to make a cup of hot cocoa with a huge dollop of whipped cream on top.

 

“For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

I’m thrilled to introduce you to guest blogger and my friend, Becky Jones.

As a child I spent every Summer at Girl Scout camp.  Those experiences prepared me for the future in many ways, but one experience especially influenced my spiritual life.

At the end of every two-week session there was a final campfire in the clearing of a heavily wooded area.  To get to the site, we had to walk quite a distance on a narrow, winding path.  Both sides of the path had thick brush, large stones, and a lot of poison ivy.  Walking the path during the day was easy; you could clearly see the trail and the hazards.   But traveling the path at night in complete darkness could be frightening, especially to first-time campers.  So to safely guide the group, Council Scouts –girls who had been at the camp for at least 3 Summers – stood at strategic intervals with their flashlights pointed down.  Until you reached the clearing, you could only see the path as far as the next spot of light – just a few feet further down the trail.  The seasoned campers knew that our path would be lit the entire way and that we would safely reach our destination.  But new campers?  They had no idea how far the walk was or what was waiting for them at the end of the trail.

Believers are all traveling toward the same destination – eternal life with God – but each experiences the journey differently.  On the path, some are ahead of us, some behind.  Those ahead of us can give us encouragement, showing how to avoid the crumbling shoulders and rocky terrain, and how to travel on the solid parts of the path.   And to those behind us we have the opportunity of  sharing our experiences of things yet unseen by them, in order to reassure them that the path is secure.

Although I’ve asked enough times, God has yet to reveal the entire map of my journey, but maturing faith has proven repeatedly that He does provide sufficient daily guidance if only I will seek His will. Just like on that flashlight-lit path, I must trust Him and His promises, and I yearn for the day that I have grown enough spiritually that the trust is automatic and complete.  David had reached that level of trust when he wrote Psalm 23:

³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. ⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Prayer:  “Lord, every day, let me be a faith walker – to see my life from Your perspective by spending more time with You in prayer, by reading Your Word, and by listening to Your Holy Spirit.  Help me to remember to encourage others just as I have been encouraged by my brothers and sisters in Christ.  Amen. “

After a fulfilling career in the medical field that took her all over the United States, Becky Jones now resides in Opelika, AL with her husband of almost 40 years.  For the past two years, she has been striving to “re-wire” herself to become a human BEING rather than a human DOING, and she still refuses to be defined by her chronological age.

Last weekend my son married his bride… a second time. You see, we are living in a COVID world and things are a little weird right now. On May 9, as originally scheduled, the couple married in a small ceremony with parents and siblings present. Just a few months later, they renewed their vows and celebrated with many more family and friends. I am grateful for both of those amazing experiences!

Bride and Groom had a small wedding and then they had a big wedding. The beautiful bride adorned her enchanting dress not once but twice. The Cake. Yep, we had it two times. Both days were special. The first was under some strain of giving up a dream, yet it was intimate and momentous. The second, still under some strain regarding health and safety of guests, was celebratory and full of joy.

In the middle of the two weddings I observed a couple who are in love, navigating some pretty difficult challenges. But COVID would not have the last word on this story. The reason? Jesus’ joy rested firmly on the players.

I experienced and witnessed this joy on each person involved in this wedding story. We never lost sight of the reason for the occasion. An eternal love commitment was the goal. It commenced on May 9 and then pronounced 139 days later.

I do not wish this method of wedding events for anyone; it is not for the faint of heart. However, what a privilege to know even when dreams seemed dashed, joy can still be present. Our families chose to hold fast to what mattered most. For us, this was a pursuit of Jesus and a union of love.

It is true, some days are better than others. We experienced two special days with some not so great days in-between. But the in-between days reminded us joy does not live in our circumstances. It is who we are.

Are we there yet? It’s an exhausting question both for the asker and the ask-ee.

The short answer is “No.”

However, you might be surprised by the long answer.

I’ve been thinking about this question for awhile and wondering: Where exactly is ‘there’? Is there when we have no more sickness in the world? Is there when every person who wants to finally take a vacation gets to? Is there when our favorite football team is playing again?

As I ponder this, I have come to the conclusion that if I wait on there to be a perfect place or scenario, I might be waiting a long time. This has led to me ask a new question instead, “Am I here yet?” Because what if there is actually here? If it is, gosh, I don’t want to miss it!

Truthfully, at the moment, my life isn’t looking exactly like I thought. I’m not planning a vacation, I’m not visiting my sweet niece on her second birthday and I’m not spending hours at my beloved local coffee shop with friends. However, just yesterday, three of the most amazing gals came here – to my house for worship. Last night, my husband and I spent our here with longtime family friends and our new puppies enjoying a play date. And this morning my here was a wonderful telephone conversation with my sister that I normally would not have had on a Monday morning.

So the long answer to “Are we there yet?” is: I don’t know because I don’t know where there is anymore. I’m trusting God with my here. Perhaps this is what He wanted me to notice all along: moments not just events.

When I asked God to help me live in the here, he took me to Romans 8:

“Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along,” Romans 8:26 (MSG).

“I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us,” Romans 8:39 (MSG).

No matter where I may be, his love is HERE –everyday. For me, that’s a powerful promise.

Today, the waves at the beach were literally dancing. It was such a great expression of joy. I have been waiting for this day to come. During the past two and a half months, for many of us, our world has halted into a stillness never before experienced in our generation.

I’ve tried to be patient. But it’s hard. I’ve been a good girl and social distanced from my people. In normal times, things are happening in my life and those things give me a skip in my step. But lately, life is so still and it has been difficult to skip. Honestly, I need a hug.

Sure, I’ve enjoyed springtime. And yes, I’ve calmed my spirit and searched my soul. I’ve been introspective, grateful and quiet. Yet, I have questioned what joy looks like in all of this. I have wondered, is stillness void of joy?

The answer came today in the form of dancing waves. At just the right time, in a single moment, the dancing waves and my eyes met. I laughed at those silly waves as they frolicked and played in the ocean. They were so happy. They made me smile.

The ocean has been a wise counselor during this time of stillness, patience and now joy. I’m reminded its vastness is always present whether I put my toes in the water or not. Each day the shore, the waves, and the horizon may look a little different but it’s up to me to take notice and grasp all the attributes of calm, beauty and power. As a sideline viewer of the ocean, I realize I don’t have to do anything grand for its existence to be real. My responsibility is to be still and watch. And eventually, the waves will dance and joy will come.

Dear Jesus, thank you for giving me the ocean because it reminds me of you. Some days the waves are practically motionless and their calm beauty is breathtaking, just like you. Other days, the waves explode along the shore and I am reminded of strength, just like you. And then today, the waves dance and I realize the jubilation of joy comes from you. My soul is full because of you Jesus. Thank you for teaching me the value of stillness. Amen.