That’s how I feel at the end of another week of social distancing: calm and crazy. It feels like the whole world is in TIME OUT — yes, it’s scary!

COVID-19 came from a bat that jumped to human; then the virus jumped human-to-human. So, our days are spent trying to keep that microbe from jumping on us!

My friend Kris makes dolls; her most recent one looks how I feel keeping the bug from landing on me!

Me, Calm and Crazy

Meanwhile, Doug and I manage to come from opposite ends of the house at the same time and collide in the kitchen while we are just trying to pour a cup of coffee!

It’s like we have homing devices: Hey I am in the kitchen now. Come and get under foot while I am trying to do my thing.

Whew! Social distancing has a variation even when it’s just the two of us! Praying for the families who are at home in ways they never imagined!

Worry works its way through both our hearts throughout the calmness of our days and makes us a little crazy. Paraphrasing from a beloved pastor helps:

Worry is when the situation is controlling me, dictating my well-being.
Don’t permit legitimate concern to become illegitimate worry.
Look for spiritual truth in the midst trials: physical, and medical.
Crises can create caring! (Tony Evans)

And caring one for another has been what so many people are doing! Except for the shoppers who have played locusts at the big retailers; that has been depressingly disappointing.

Crisis doesn’t create character; crises reveal character. ~Lessons from Katrina and Other Mega Disasters

I don’t always like what a crisis reveals about my character.

I can get a wee bit testy – even in the safe and secure hiding place in which we reside.  Lose my charm , I can do!

I know a soft answer defuses the troubles conflict ignites; I fail — so watching  my tone of voice is just as smart as washing my hands and praying while I do!

It isn’t a new lesson –

When we homeschooled our kids, it revealed so many deficiencies in my character – and conduct  — it was a painful and personal education.

. . . My response to circumstances, especially the unpleasant or unexpected ones, becomes a powerful lesson.  (Teach Me Lord the I May Teach: or what we learned homeschooling the kids) 

I may not be center-stage any more; but, I have an audience; we all do.

In an odd way I feel back in school, and I am a student. I wonder if the Lord hasn’t put us each and all of us in time out– for our own good to think about things.

Somehow, I hear Aretha Franklin’s THINK . . .

People walk around everyday
Playin’ games and takin’ scores
Tryin’ to make other people lose their mind
Well, be careful you don’t lose yours

So, yes, I believe I am in time-out! From my own little cubby – or corner — I keep asking, can I come out now?

But, I might have more to think about – like getting over my fears about what is coming next.

Perhaps, that’s why I feel calm; these days are a time out I never would have taken.

But they sure are disconcerting times –times like none I’ve ever known, and maybe that’s why I feel crazy, too, right along with the calm.

How goes it with you, dear reader?

Here’s a prayer that helps balance the calm and crazy feelings. Sometimes I just don’t know what to say; these words helped.

Almighty God, you know we have no power in  ourselves to help ourselves. Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault the heart and the souls; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen. (The Book of Common Prayer)

I remember, too, a prayer from a great king, Jehoshaphat, and tonight, I rely on his wise petition:

   O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.” 2 Chronicles 20:12

Painting continues, chores do not.