LIFE INTERRUPTED

 During World War II, my parents had a huge life interruption.  With the onset of the war, the world turned upside down and everything was pointed toward defeating the aggressors.  Millions of couples and families were separated when the men left for a war being fought on battlefields thousands of miles away.  When I reflect on that time, the sketchy parts I have been told are momma living and working in Farmerville (my Daddy's hometown) after losing their first baby, who was still born, and Daddy being stationed in the European Theater.  They were apart for a long time and each was living life separate from the other.  

We have all experienced life being interrupted---sometimes for short periods and others for long.  The biggest interruption for us all in the last few years was the shut down during the early parts of the pandemic.  In many ways, I actually enjoyed that period of time.  I attempted new arts, read lots of books, watched movies, worked in my yard and took my daily walks while still practicing social distancing.  My friends and I got together in my large garage and spread out and visited.  We were not able to play games as we had in the past, but we enjoyed the company of each other.  In many ways it was an introvert's dream come true.  I took that interruption and made the most of it.  As with day to day life---the worst part was the loss of many friends to the dreaded virus and the suffering and long term effects others endured while sick with it. 

Interruptions can come for short periods---I had the flu last year for 10 days and did nothing but sleep and visit the porcelain throne to empty the meager contents of my stomach.  After 10 days, my life quickly went back to normal.  You could possibly look at major holidays as interruptions.  My mantra has always been--it is one day.  The major part of the interruption usually comes with the preparations and sometimes the clean up to establish normal once again. When we lose a loved one it is a major interruption which completely changes our lives.  There is no possibility of a return to what we consider normal.  We are then forced to create a new normal.  Some illnesses cause not only an interruption, but a change in life style once we are over the worst of it.  Put this in your book---life will be interrupted.

 We all experience interruptions in life--the question becomes how do we handle those interruptions?  Are we able to return to "normal" easily?  I can only speak for myself, but the pandemic created a huge change in my life.  I developed new habits--new patterns which I continued even after the worst of the scare had passed.  When I think of Momma and Daddy--they immediately tried to return to normal by starting the family they had to delay after Daddy went to war and they lost her son.  I think of all the men and women who returned from that war and each and every one of them trying to return to normal as quickly as possible after the world was interrupted.  Interruptions are inevitable---our character is revealed by how we handle them and how we adapt when life has been changed.  Do we still look to God for strength AND most importantly---are we able to acknowledge---He was not surprised by the interruption and can use it for our good?  

I am certain there are interruptions in the future--maybe soon--maybe far in the future---maybe minor hiccups-maybe life altering breaks.   As that silly movie, "Ghost Busters" so clearly stated "Who ya' gonna call?"  There is only One who can help!

"God is our mighty fortress,

always ready to help

in times of trouble.

And so, we won't be afraid!"

Psalms 46:1-2