My Thoughts

 Can we blame Corona? What do you think?

Today’s pandemic is the heat that brings the underlining problems that already exist to the top. It is like boiling potatoes. We forget we put the pot on the burner; then, the next thing we know is that we have a mess from the pot boiling over. Sometimes, it takes a long time to clean up that mess from the neglect of boiling the potatoes. That mess really depends on the time we remembered the pot was on the stove.

Saying that to say, like that pot of potatoes, we have left our hearts unattended far too long, and now it has taken a virus to attack a virus in order to heal. The sad thing is that we are afraid to tell anyone that our pot is boiling over, that we are hurting. “My heart is distressed and wounded. I do not want to erupt on the people I love or those I do not know.” Or, I’m tired of being frightened, scared, depressed, and angry all the time.

A doctor shared this diagnosis with me a long time ago: “Darlene, you have been running from the same lion far too long; it is time you turn around and face it before …” It wasn’t an easy process nor was it anything that I wanted to do, but I took the journey; it will last a lifetime.

Young and old alike, we are in a quiet storm. The quarantine has caused an eruption of the heart. Do not get me wrong; I understand the quarantine is difficult for even the well-grounded and healthy families—and even for me, a single woman living in a rural area without transportation.

Anger is a storm that is erupting and causing havoc in the lives of people because that same anger already existed deep down inside. It was just waiting on the right climate or the right conditions to develop. We can not blame what already lived in the hearts of men and women on the coronavirus. What every man and woman can do now is to accept and take responsibility for their response to the “underlining” virus! For our anger, fear, hate, rebellion, resistance…the beat goes on.

I do not know if we will ever have the time to look back and see how we, as a people, could have responded differently, but we can begin to think about how we can respond differently to people NOW and in the future. We can think before we open our mouths. We can think before we take any physical action. We can think before we move. We do not have to be ashamed to ask for help, be it emotionally or mentally. We do not have to be ashamed to ask a friend for help even if it is only to talk. We can not let guilt, shame, or anger dictate our hearts.

We must hold on because the storm will rage a little longer; the wind will blow a little harder; the waves will get a little taller; the pandemic is not going away soon. Even now, they are talking about another wave of Corona! We are responsible for being prepared and not being caught unaware.

I wrote a plea to God a long time ago entitled “Love Me Through the Storm.”

Love Me Through the Storm.

Love Me Through the Storm.

Love Me Through the Storm.

Until the Storm is Over.

Love Me Through the Storm.

Love Me Through the Storm.

Love Me Through the Storm.

Until the Storm is Over.

If the wind keeps on blowing.

And if the rain continues to fall.

Just Walk with me and

Talk to me.

Until the Storm is over.

If the storm keeps on raging

And I can’t seem to find my way.

Lord, take my hand

And give me hope.

Until, Until, You calm the storm.

Love me, Love me, Love me.

Love Me Through the Storm.

Love Me Through the Storm.

Love Me Through the Storm.

Until you calm the Storm.

I hope you can find some encouragement in these words.

Love, Grace, and Mercy