Positivity in an Age of Worry: by Carter Boone

Two weeks. That’s how long the majority of us have been in quarantine. It seems like it’s been two months, yet it has only been a handful of days since we’ve begun this self isolation. 

This pandemic is truly heartbreaking to see, and it makes me so sad that our country has been brought to a halt. About two weeks ago a couple of us went to the Parthenon at Centennial Park for a picnic. It was in the beginning stages of self isolation and people were still trying to figure out how to navigate through this time. I vividly remember sitting on the steps of the Parthenon with Ethan, Andy and Cat while the sun was setting and watching people go for walks, play games and enjoy the fresh air. I thought to myself, “this is so beautiful but this is about to change.”

I’m desperately waiting for the notification from all my news apps saying that we’ve discovered the cure and that we can go back to our normal lives, but day by day it’s difficult to tell when that day will come. I go about my day usually doing the same things. I work from home, I spend time with my family, I read, I go for walks, and I FaceTime friends. 

I miss the actual normalcy of my daily life. I miss waking up in the morning and getting dressed for work. I miss my commute and listening to music. I miss my friends and being able to be in the same room with them, which now is regarded as “illegal.” I miss the beauty and the peacefulness that is Sunday mornings at Christ Presbyterian Church with friends. I miss the ability to go out to a restaurant or a coffee shop and sit down to enjoy the meal. 

I think everyone, including myself, misses many of the same things. We are all just sitting and waiting to see when we can go back to normal. We are so incredibly thankful for the technological gifts we have in order to keep in touch with our loved ones who we may not share a home with. We are thankful that we have time to slow down and focus on other important aspects of our lives. I am especially thankful that my friends still care so much for each other, and we haven’t lost our sense of community even though we are all in different cities now.

Several people keep telling me that we may have to settle in, and get used to this being the new normal for a while. I keep hearing all these different timelines, all this news about the curve and what our projections are. Sometimes this news is useful, and other times this news causes stress and anxiety. While I understand that we don’t have a clear timeline, I refuse to give in and accept this is our new way of life for the unforeseeable future. 

That doesn’t mean I’m going to break all the rules and guidelines our government and our communities have set out. I will still do my part to flatten the curve and help in social distancing. But I will wake up every morning with positivity and a full heart, and hope that today or the next day will be our final day of this pandemic. 

During this time people are looking for ways to fill their time. People are saying they’re bored or they “can’t take this” anymore and they fall into ruts. One of the beautiful things I have realized through this time is that God has given us the unique opportunity to slow down our fast paced lives and re-center them around him. He has given us more time in the day to find solitude in His word. He has given us opportunity to spend pure quality time with family. And through the gift that is technology, he has given us the ability to not stop our worship of Him.

So while I am frustrated and sad that there is no clear timeline for when I can be back in Nashville, there is beauty in slowing down our lives.

There was an article I read recently from Time titled “Christianity Offers No Answers About the Coronavirus. It’s Not Supposed To.” This article was incredibly convicting because friends have come to me, and I have even questioned myself, why would God let this happen? I tried to dig deep into scripture and theology to find answers, but this article’s last paragraph left me with an interesting mindset:

“It is no part of the Christian vocation, then, to be able to explain what’s happening and why. In fact, it is part of the Christian vocation not to be able to explain—and to lament instead. As the Spirit laments within us, so we become, even in our self-isolation, small shrines where the presence and healing love of God can dwell. And out of that there can emerge new possibilities, new acts of kindness, new scientific understanding, new hope. New wisdom for our leaders?”

My prayer today, Lord, is for my friends, that they may find positivity and hope in their new daily routines. For my family that we are able to find rest and peace in these uncertain times. For our government and health care services that they may not be overwhelmed, and that through their collective efforts, they are able to help restore our daily lives.