Fall 2020 Notes

 A few thoughts from my fall thus far:

Covid-19 brings twists and turns to routine living, some welcome, some not. My natural proclivity towards laziness and homebody-ness is NOT benefitted by Covid-19 protocols. Even the simplest of outings seems monumental in effort. I can count on my hand the number of times I've been in a grocery store since this all began. (Well, slight exaggeration, but the number is nonetheless small. Too small, in fact. I've been lazy, sending my son in my stead too many times. Thank you, Merrick.)

On the other hand, my implacable desire to guide other people in making music forced me to find a new venue, my usual ventures in theater being curtailed (altogether eliminated would be a more accurate assessment). Therefore I dreamed and schemed a way to make music with some folks who are so inclined. Setting up an 8 week session of private coaching to culminate in a small recital, I currently have fifteen students participating in weekly lessons at my home. When we share the fruit of our labors in recital fashion we will be socially distanced with all solo singers 12' away from the audience. And in a private setting, mind you. Taking care to honor protocol and yet make music, mind you. This is perfection!

On another front, two years in and apartment living continues to bring delight and adjustment. I love this space! What a lovely way to do life, with numerous and generous windows creating such an open airy view! And easy to clean. (So why, I often ask myself, are the tables currently dusty and the games still out of place? Ah, another tribute to my lazy tendencies. Oh, wait, let me attribute such things to "other priorities". Ha!!!)

Simultaneously, I seem to miss the gardens. Or do I miss the energy I had to keep the gardens? I double check myself, knowing that it was a chore just to water my flower boxes outside the front door this summer. Something has changed. Is it my interests? My energy? Whatever it is, I settle into the awareness that this seems to be a time to refocus whatever energy it is I have in other directions. And so, I go with it.

We thought we would be traveling. But Covid. And I thought we would be writing and reading and studying. But Covid. 

Covid has limited and constrained. Covid has demanded and pressed us in new directions. As has age and aging.

And in it all, I trust Him to use our time, energy, talent, resourcefulness and creativity to serve Him today, here and now, in the midst of Covid and aging, national turmoil and strife, unsure routines, plans and the need to be flexible with plans. In it all and through it all He is building His kingdom. That is all I want to know. That is all I need to know. 

Finding Him. And being found by Him, our ever present Father.