On Hold

I feel like the world is holding its breath. We are holding our breath to see what happens, to see how this global pandemic of life and death plays out. To see how it will impact us personally, and to see what will be left after it is finally over. Our lives are on hold….

Many have said, “I want this to just be over.” “I want to go on with my life.” “I want things to return to normal.” And I am one of them. With one foot in the present and one in the future, I want my “normal” life back. I want reassurance that this journey will end soon. I don’t like having my life on hold.

My heart has been touched recently by my young adult children. Their lives, like all others, are on hold. My son is home from college, working through classes online. My daughter is a high school senior. She is bummed at the things that may possibly be changed or postponed in her final weeks as a senior– the prom, the senior party, and possibly graduation. These final weeks contain those powerful memories that are the capstone of high school. And the memories aren’t just for the kids, but the parents too.

But, as we are all learning, life goes on… and even this “on hold” stage can harvest rich experiences, if we just look for them. My daughter is college-bound this fall, and we cannot fathom what the future will look like for that either. So we sit, today, and just face one day at a time. She has hopes and dreams and so do I. I sketched her a few days ago, college hat on, looking at her phone. One foot in the present and one in her future.

We are reminded of God’s ability to live in the past, present, and future, as Deuteronomy 31:8 states: “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

These words touched my heart today as I reflected on the nature of God, who at once can go before us, and also be with us, in the present. I can’t live in the future, but God can. And God lives with us each and every day, in our present hour. Though our lives feel “on hold” in this season, God is purposefully working grace, mercy, forgiveness, love, and compassion in the fabric of our very lives. Let’s look for Him today.

Prayer- “God of grace, I walk with a foot in my present and in my future. Work in my heart to trust you with just the present. Help me to lean into this “on hold” time, to see the richness and gifts of this season. Teach me patience through it all. ” In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”