Working at Staying Positive
Lauren got home yesterday. She is 15 pounds lighter, and she was slender before she left. She had quite a trip back, making her way to Chili with other Paraguayan missionaries by chartered bus. There were several buses all converging on the Chili Airport to fly out to the States with hundreds of missionaries returning home.
She arrived in Salt Lake City late Saturday night. She was taken to a hotel where she spent the remainder of the night and flew home to Phoenix yesterday. She is in isolation now, except she and Erin drove over and we talked out on the driveway for maybe 20 minutes. She looks good - albeit thin - and she sounds good, but I am certain that she is feeling like she is in a dream.
She will finish out her isolation and then most likely be reassigned somewhere in the U.S.
SK and I have everything we need here and are profoundly blessed. I love our walks in the sunshine every day and look forward to them. But even with all the comforts we have, it is just a trifle difficult to not be afraid as we watch the events in the world unfold. We read news reports and opinion pieces and graphs and charts. We see how life is being radically disrupted by the virus, and the hysteria that seems to be driving so many things.
I am working hard to stay at peace, to not give in to fear. With all that we have - with all we have been blessed with in this time of trouble, if I have a hard time not despairing, what on earth are people doing whose lives are filled with uncertainty and trial? What are they doing to combat depression, extreme anxiety and panic?
Most of us can get through a day. It is the nagging "what ifs" that kill our spirits. What if this drags on for months? What if the economy absolutely tanks? What if the food supply completely runs out? What if our loved ones get the virus? What if our children lose their jobs? What if we fall prey to the virus? It's scary.
But trying to get through the day is probably the best course of action. Believing that it all work out, that there are good people everywhere trying to find solutions, kind people everywhere wanting to help, compassionate people everywhere trying to serve goes a long way in helping alleviate anxieties. Spending time communicating with the Lord is perhaps the best thing. Counting my blessings and trusting that He will help us get through, no matter what "getting through" means is the most positive thing I can do today.
She arrived in Salt Lake City late Saturday night. She was taken to a hotel where she spent the remainder of the night and flew home to Phoenix yesterday. She is in isolation now, except she and Erin drove over and we talked out on the driveway for maybe 20 minutes. She looks good - albeit thin - and she sounds good, but I am certain that she is feeling like she is in a dream.
She will finish out her isolation and then most likely be reassigned somewhere in the U.S.
SK and I have everything we need here and are profoundly blessed. I love our walks in the sunshine every day and look forward to them. But even with all the comforts we have, it is just a trifle difficult to not be afraid as we watch the events in the world unfold. We read news reports and opinion pieces and graphs and charts. We see how life is being radically disrupted by the virus, and the hysteria that seems to be driving so many things.
I am working hard to stay at peace, to not give in to fear. With all that we have - with all we have been blessed with in this time of trouble, if I have a hard time not despairing, what on earth are people doing whose lives are filled with uncertainty and trial? What are they doing to combat depression, extreme anxiety and panic?
Most of us can get through a day. It is the nagging "what ifs" that kill our spirits. What if this drags on for months? What if the economy absolutely tanks? What if the food supply completely runs out? What if our loved ones get the virus? What if our children lose their jobs? What if we fall prey to the virus? It's scary.
But trying to get through the day is probably the best course of action. Believing that it all work out, that there are good people everywhere trying to find solutions, kind people everywhere wanting to help, compassionate people everywhere trying to serve goes a long way in helping alleviate anxieties. Spending time communicating with the Lord is perhaps the best thing. Counting my blessings and trusting that He will help us get through, no matter what "getting through" means is the most positive thing I can do today.
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