The Blues

Yesterday I saw a meme shared by my mother-in-law (thanks, Judy) with a four panel view of what quarantine is like. It featured the Mona Lisa. The first panel shows the classic Mona Lisa as painted by DaVinci. The second shows Mona Lisa in a mask taking a selfie. The third shows Mona Lisa with disheveled hair and frumpled clothes. The fourth shows a considerably larger Mona Lisa looking angry and defiant, with a stack of toilet paper behind her.

I wonder how many of us were at least a little excited when we were forced to stay at home. I wasn't sure how we would do without having restaurants as an option, but I was glad I would get some time to spend with the family. It has been hard continuing to work from home, but we have had a lot of time together.

I think at first the idea was just novel, but as time has worn on, people have done all their puzzles and baked until they couldn't bake anymore, and the safe time to go back to "normal" is still undefined. For many of us, especially people who love to be around people, this has caused a pretty substantial case of the blues.

This is just a guess, of course, but I know I have been missing the people I spend time with more and more. I miss being able to be in worship with my friends. I miss being able to talk face to face. I miss so many things that I certainly took for granted before.

My message to you today is, if you are feeling a little blue, you are not alone. Many of us are feeling the same way. Whatever our feelings, they are a natural part of what it means to be human. If you are lonely, reach out to a friend. If you are bored, take time to read that book you have been meaning to read, or even binge watch that show you have been meaning to watch. (If you've run out of shows to binge watch, please go for the book!)

Whatever you do, try to remember your connections to others. Try to remember the shared humanity of all citizens of the world. We are all in this together. We are all unsure how to get through this in the best way.

For me, remembering that I am a part of a loving family, a loving community, and that we are all together in this thing helps me to forge ahead. Sometimes I am still a little blue, and that's OK.

That's the view today,
Chris