The Times They Are a Changin' by Laura Rodgers

As I write for this Monday of Holy Week, I keep thinking of a meme that sticks with me related to the unimaginable times in which we’re living. It reads, “This is the Lentiest Lent I ever Lented.” One traditional focus of Lent is on sacrifice, and we are all doing that in so many different ways right now.

This morning I am thinking of the sacrifice of schedule. At first, that seemed like a welcome gift to me. Things ground quickly to a halt as my family and I canceled our spring break road trip since we could do that relatively easily and without the loss of deposits and other penalties. We worried about being far from home while things were changing so quickly. Gary and I endured the groans of our kids as they didn’t understand why we changed our plans. They wanted to swim in hotel pools and see new sites, and I was shocked that they actually wanted to ride for hours in the car with us—something they usually complain loudly about within an hour of getting on the road. With all the uncertainty, it felt good to stay home and take a slower pace.

Now, almost three weeks later, we’re on a roller coaster filled with change. We don’t run to the store every day when a new recipe sounds good. We don’t need to fill our tanks with gas because we’re not driving our long commutes to work. I work from my dining room table with a peaceful view of my cul-de-sac. We don’t shuttle our kids to activities. We miss seeing co-workers in person and having lunch or dinner with friends. Instead, we exercise and enjoy time outside, work at home, cook mostly at home, balance news and non-news time, guide our kids through at-home learning, check-in with family and friends by phone and through social media, attend church online, and more. This is a sacrifice. Mostly, it’s not a great sacrifice, though.

We are reminded of how comfortable it is for us to stay home with our full pantries, Wi-Fi, plentiful utilities, and peaceful communities. Thank you, God, for all of that, and help us to be mindful of how we can help others.

Last week at the end of Jason’s sermon focusing on “Concrete Service,” he asked us to reflect on, “What is being revealed to you about you?” One thing being revealed to me is how well I do when there is balance in my schedule. It changes how I treat others and how I take care of myself. Being at home and with fewer requirements of my time, I am doing the things that feed my soul. I go outside and take the time to breathe in and out and absorb sunshine and fresh air. I am writing in my journal. I am watching my kids and evaluating how they are doing with these big changes. I am focusing on my family. I also am praying intently for all those who are sick and those who are caring for them. In closing, I offer that same question to you. What is being revealed to you about you?