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

LIFE INTERRUPTED

 Have you ever been on a path with a definite goal and plan for how to fulfill those goals when life throws you a curve ball?  NO---well hold on to your hat--it will come.  While recently having lunch with a long time friend, she told me the story of a huge curved ball coming her way.  After a long a joy filled marriage of over fifty years, she quite unexpectedly lost her husband to the dreaded virus.  Their marriage was filled with serving God in many capacities. We could never count how many lives they touched in a powerful way for The Kingdom.  If anyone ever should have lived to rock on the front porch together it was this couple.  Just as she thought he had turned the corner and they were headed home from the hospital, in the course of a few hours, her husband was gone.  She was left reeling from the loss. 

It has been over a year, and she has survived by clinging to God with her fingertips.  A year of being alone after decades of being side by side has not been easy.  She always felt they were truly as one and her identity was tied up in being his "Helpmate", his wife.  The were a prime example of being stuck together at the hip and seldom apart.  Now she is having to figure out who she is without him.  For all you ponders out there, that is a BIG question--

Slowly God is revealing who she is --who she is in Christ as an individual---without the identity of being a couple.  At some point we must consider who we are when all is stripped away.  She is seeking and I have total faith that God will use her in BIG ways for His glory and good purpose.  Would she  have ever thought about this if this untimely-unexpected day had not come?  We do not know---but she is not stuck in the mire of grief--but walking the path of grief with the purpose of being open to what God has next.

Priscilla Shirer put my mind on high alert recently with this statement

“Believing that life interruptions—divine interventions—are a privilege"

Hang with me!  God certainly did not want my friend to lose her much beloved husband.  He is walking this path of grief closely by her side.  He does want her to have faith that this interruption in the path she anticipated can still be used for His Good Purpose.  He loves her dearly and His plans for her in this different season of being a widow will be as mighty and as fruitful as all those years of a blessed marriage.  

So "Fear Not" He will faithfully be with you, He has plans for you, He will use you for His glory and good purposes--even when we think all is lost---there is more to come---the sun will come out tomorrow---all is right with God.  

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, 

which God prepared beforehand, 

that we should walk in them."

Ephesians 2:10