#coronavirus | Traveling in Faith

In January my friends and I got together to make vision boards for 2020. I bought colorful poster board, pulled together some old magazines, located the scissors that were scattered about the house and cleaned off the kitchen table. Since I was hosting, my friends brought snacks, adult beverages and glue sticks. It was an evening of fellowship, laughter, reflection and discussion of the hopes we had for the year.

Strengthening our faith, discovering our passions, exploring new things and exercising were the underlying themes. At the end of evening, we agreed we would be there to support each other. During our monthly get togethers we would talk about what we’ve accomplished and give encouragement when things didn’t go as planned. Turns out there is much that has not gone as planned. A stark reminder that we indeed are not in control.

My board stays in the dining room and truthfully, I hadn’t thought about it too much in the midst of this crisis. My golden retriever, Bella, was by the window barking with urgency so I went to see what the problem was. Nothing. Absolutely nothing (but that’s nothing new). As I bopped her on her head and shook mine, I caught a glimpse of my vision board. I stopped to look at it. 2020 certainly hadn’t started as I had hoped but what I didn’t realize was how prophetic my vision board actually was.

As I scanned the board things started jumping out at me: “God’s Plan”, “Celebrate God’s Goodness”, “One for the Books”, “Grow”, “Simple Pleasures” and “Make 2020 the Year”. Talk about being hit by a ton of bricks. What was I thinking?? It certainly got my attention. And isn’t it true that it often takes something big to get our attention? The Holy Spirit is ALWAYS at work and this was no different. A wave of emotions came crashing over me that I wasn’t prepared for. I cried. I needed to cry. I had so many pent-up feelings and could tell I was starting to become like Alice. The rabbit hole was calling and it’s just not a place I wanted go. It was time to let go.

My 2020 Vision Board

During this time of uncertainty we should focus on the things that make us smile; things that strengthen our faith. Have you noticed all the trees that are flowering? The colors and scents seem more vibrant this year. Have you taken in the scent of the manure? The farmers are still preparing for the planting season. Have you read the heart-warming stories of how others are helping during these difficult times? People are donating meals, blood and protective equipment. Companies are opening their products and services for free. People are responding to the call.

Sometimes I think we forget God is everywhere. While we are missing the mass, the sacraments and traditions of the church, we still have community and prayer. Community and fellowship look a little different but it’s still here. And one thing that can always do is pray.

You can pray:

In a car or in a bed

Out loud or in your head

In the dark or in a park

At church or hanging from a birch

In a group or on a stoop

In a boat or with a goat

By yourself or with someone else

With a rosary or with family.

You can pray here or you can pray there.

You can pray virtually anywhere.

As we continue to prayer, let’s pray for each other, our friends and family, our enemies, our first responders, our healthcare workers, our nation, state and local leaders, the sick, the souls in purgatory, the unemployed, our religious, the Pope, the souls of those who have died and the families who can’t properly lay their loved ones to rest.

Pray for the grocery employees stocking and sanitizing shelves, the food service employees cooking, taking and filling orders and those manning the gas stations, rest stops and convenience stores. Pray for our truckers who are hauling across our great country transporting the essentials.

Pray for our churches who are trying to bring us services during this holiest of times. Pray for all parents who are working at home and playing teacher at the same time. Pray for our teachers and students who now learn on-line. Pray for our students who are missing key milestones like graduation, SATs, sports seasons, musical and prom.

Pray for the lonely and the elderly who can’t have visitors. Pray for expectant mothers and their unborn babies. Pray for those fighting addictions or anxiety. Pray for truth from those reporting the news. Pray for the strength of marriages and relationships. Pray for our trash collectors and mail carriers. Pray for healing and forgiveness. And pray for anyone I may have missed, anyone who asks and anyone needing protection.

Pray with purpose. Pray with resolve. And pray knowing our Heavenly Father and our Blessed Mother with all the angels and saints are holding us tight and listening.

From left to right: Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Rita’s Shrine (Philadelphia, PA) , St. Lucy’s (Newark, NJ), Our Lady in my garden.

As for me and my board, I’ve already decided next year’s vision board will include winning Powerball and having enough toilet paper 😉

Lifting all of you in prayer and sending love and virtual hugs.

I normally write about my travel adventures but with the coronavirus barreling down, I don’t think I will be headed anywhere exciting (at least not in the near future). That said, I was inspired this morning by the smell of spring in the air. As I sat at my kitchen table and watched the birds playing in the yard, there were no thoughts of the virus, or anything else for that matter.

I was focused of the robin playing hard to get as she hopped from branch to branch in the sycamore tree and the bluejay flitting about searching for food. The tree swallows were doing their mating dance and looked like small dust devils as they twirled in the sky. The doves were cooing and a cardinal was perched on fence singing a song. The robins and the mockingbirds were collecting twigs, grass and dried leaves for their nests, while the house sparrows popped in an out of the bird box. A pair of goldfinches were enjoying the remaining thistle seeds from the coneflowers I never cut down in the fall. There were white, wispy clouds scattered in the beautiful blue sky and a crispness in the air. The birds were going about their normal activities oblivious to the chaos in the world. And for those few moments, I was too.

I wish I could say I’m not concerned but the truth is, I am. I have an auto-immune disease (as does my daughter) so we need to be extra careful. It’s not the virus itself that scares me but the financial impact. Like many Americans, we have kids in college, a mortgage, car payments and medical expenses. As retirement creeps closer, it’s definitely unsettling to see your 401-k/IRA shrinking with the uncertainty in the markets and the outcome of this crisis. The unknown can be scary.

In general, I am a relatively positive person. I try hard not to get caught up in the small stuff; and truthfully, most of what happens in life is small stuff. Difficut at times? Yes. Disappointments? Yep. Curve balls? Those too! But if we take a step back and truly reflect, we are blessed. Will we be challenged over the course of the next few months? Absolutely! Probably in ways we haven’t even thought. But with all challenges comes strength and growth. We will forever be changed but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

I find it quite apropos COVID-19 hit the US during Lent. Lent, a time of reflection, repentance and renewal; a time of fasting and abstinence. This outbreak is forcing us to give up many things that we have grown to enjoy: eating out, enjoying a latte, watching March Madness, attending a sporting event or concert, planning play dates with our kids, reading at the library or going to the Fish Fry followed by the Stations of the Cross.

There is a lesson for all of us in this chaos. Maybe we need to slow down. Maybe we need to focus more on our families. Maybe we need to take a hard look at our priorities. Maybe we need to work on our relationship with the Lord. Whatever it is, I pray all of us use the additional time we have for good. Good for others and just as important, good for ourselves. Have you always wanted to learn how to knit? Did you ever finish the book you picked up six months ago? Is there a Saint you’ve always wanted to learn about? Is there a recipe that you’ve always wanted to try? Have you wanted to learn a new language? Have you wanted to teach your kids how to do laundry? Have you wanted to organize all your pictures? Is there a closet that needs reorganizing? Are there toys or clothes that could be donated? Have your always wanted to pray an intentional rosary? Do you have a garden tub that never gets used? Do you you need start exercising? If you pray for guidance and open your mind to the possibilities, they are expansive.

Prior to the virus, our nation was polarized by the political climate and battle between “the left” and “the right”. The reality is this virus doesn’t care if you are a Democrat or a Republican. It doesn’t care what color your skin is or what your social status is. It doesn’t discriminate by pay grade or believe system. We are all vulnerable.

Let’s pray that as things unfold with the virus, the focus shifts from anger, division and animosity to compassion, kindness and tolerance. If we look back through history, we’ve seen this time and time again. Take a look at what happened after 9-11 or Hurricane Katrina. We came together as a nation. We cried. We comforted. We provided. We helped. We prayed. We are resilient and we will survive. Where we will shine is in how we handle the situation. At a time like this we need to challenge ourselves to look at who we really are. For me, I am a child of God and I am choosing to be a blessing to all those I meet.

Traveling in Faith

Tag Archives: #coronavirus

Coronavirus: Reflecting on my Vision for 2020

Lent – A reflection on the coronavirus