​We all have regular rhythms of life.  These can change as we get involved in new activities and challenges or as we move on from those activities that have become a familiar part of life and into unknown territory.  For all of us, our lives today have a very different rhythm, whether we continue to go to our workplaces, often in providing essential services (thank you so much, all of you) or whether we are at home or working from home.  This is especially so for the elderly and most vulnerable.  How are you coping?  Some of us may be enjoying the changed rhythms of life but for some of us we may be really struggling.
 
I have read a couple of blogs recently about our reactions in the Covid-19 crisis which have described the changed rhythms of life as “transition” – a technical term used by psychologists to describe the challenges of the process of adjusting from one rhythm of life to another.  And we all experience transition throughout our lives.  Life is full of transition – being born, growing up, getting married, buying a house, having family, changing jobs, retiring.  There are so many situations we experience in life and all tend to be characterized as leaving behind the familiar and going into something unfamiliar.  The only transition I can think of where the move from the old to the new is certain, rewarding and the best we will ever make is our last one – into the eternal presence of God!
 
But how are you coping?  Is isolation challenging for you?  How are you sleeping?  Are you less patient than usual?  Are you finding it difficult to complete jobs well or productively?  Do you feel easily tired? Do you miss social interaction? Do you miss seeing family?  Are you fearful for the future?  How are you coping with the new ‘virtual’ world where we can catch up with one another but at a distance? That’s especially difficult if you love “hugs” – socially distanced hugging is difficult!
 
Transition is tough because having to change our rhythms of life can be really tough.
 
A friend of ours (Rev. Jodie Gaston), who oversees GEM missionaries from the US and Canada, working in the UK, had some helpful advice for them recently.  The gist of what he wrote is that we should recognize that:
 

1. Our identity is in Him and not in what we do.  Don’t be defined by what we can or can’t do.  So be kind to ourselves and recognize that the quality of our output may be less than we expect! (Ephesians 2: 8-10)
2. Everyone else is in the same position and be kind to them too! (Carol reminded us of the need for kindness in her recent thought).  Forgive and excuse one another.  (Colossians 3: 12-14)
3. We probably can’t change our circumstances but we can change the way we react to them. Nothing is accidental with God and He can use every situation to do good for us. (Romans 8: 28)
4. We have more time (most of us anyway) to rest and to cultivate our relationship with God.  (Matthew 11: 28-30)
5. These are stressful, anxious and uncertain times but God has called us to be faithful and trust Him. (Revelation 2: 10)

 
Thanks, Jodie, for that great advice.
 
Even as many are going through tough times we rest confidently in Jesus’ promise – that He would be walking with us through our whole lives, through every transition and that he would never leave us alone.
 
Stay safe and well.