Gratitude Day 427

Tues., Mar. 24, 2020

Isaiah 64:8: You, Lord, are our Father. We are nothing but clay, but you are the potter who molded us.

How well do you deal with change?

Do you thrive in change? Dread change? Resist it at all costs?

No matter your perspective about change, we’re sure experiencing a lot of it these days. Seemingly every day, there is another change in how daily life exists around us.

Today, the state I live in, Wisconsin, announced that tomorrow begins a stay-in-place order. Thousands of small businesses closed their doors yesterday for now. Will all those doors reopen at some point?

It remains to be seen.

It’s a tough call. Shut down much of the economic engine our country thrives on, which is having devastating impacts on our economy, OR limit the potential spread of COVID-19 by ordering people to stay home and potentially save more lives.

It’s a terribly unfortunate decision many governors, mayors and other elected officials are having to make. I’m confident no one relishes making these kinds of changes; ones that dramatically affect people’s lives. It’s impossible to think there will any winners.

It is such a strange time for all of us. Having never experienced something quite like this, my mind wanders. For most of us, this situation is hopefully a once-in-a life-time deal. Yet, I wonder back to World War II and how folks lived with limited rations. I remember the gas rations in the mid 1970’s and the long lines of people wanting to buy gas. I remember the somberness after 9/11.

In most every previous situation, physically, people came together and shared their feelings and emotions. This time around? We’re told to stay home. Isolate. Limit contact.

I am a person who normally looks at a situation and begins figuring out how to make lemonade from whatever lemons were dropped into our lives. My brain has already shifted and is pondering how this situation will change my worldview, my priorities and where Hubby Rick and I dedicate our resources of time, energy, talent and financial means.

Honestly, I’m still sorting this out. But I pray that when we are beyond this initial scare, I WILL look at life differently. I WILL adjust my schedule and focus on what is most important as the main priorities of my life. I WILL know that the sour lemons that have upset our lives have been turned into lemonade.

Do I know exactly what this will look like in my future? Absolutely not. What I do know is that I want to be intentional about looking at the various things I do and how I dedicate my resources towards God’s kingdom. As I continue to sort through this, I do know a few things:

• The constant “doing” will be tempered. I will thoughtfully and intentionally choose which areas of my life will continue. Some things will stay behind.
• I will build more down time into my life; time which will allow for me to draw close to God and be guided by God’s love and mercy.

Isn’t it AMAZING … that we CAN live without non-stop sports? Shopping at the mall? Schedules jam-packed full?

This truly is a time to contemplate the tension between DOING and BEING. Figuring out what God calls us to do and what we call ourselves to pursue. To be clear about what is most important and how do we embody this into our lives.

These are some of the topics I review in my book, “The Mary Experiment: When DOING and BEING Collide.” To encourage folks to pick up a copy who may not have one. For the next several days, the Kindle version will be available for $.99. If you are aware of someone who is struggling with making sense of how God is speaking to them, encourage them to get a copy of the book. It’s a great Lenten read, as well as in light of what we’re all experiencing right now.

Here’s the link to the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Experiment-Where-DOING-Collide-ebook/dp/B08173NBBZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2LUZH78HBKNN3&keywords=the+mary+experiment&qid=1585029278&sprefix=the+mary+exper%2Caps%2C185&sr=8-1

I also am feeling called to try something completely new for me: sharing a Lenten devotion time. It will be open to anyone! On Wed., Mar., 25, at 8 PM Central Time, please join me for a 15-minute devotion on Facebook Live. My intention is to make this a weekly devo time, where we can gather on Facebook and just share a few minutes together. I will be hosting it under my personal Facebook name, Dianne Deaton Vielhuber. Invite a friend to join us as well! And please bring your prayer requests along.

I love the image God gives us: God is the potter; we are the clay. God will mold us and shape us if we allow ourselves to let God do this. Maybe it’s not making lemonade right now. Maybe it’s being clay that can we shaped. I pray we allow God to shape us into something more spectacular than we already are!

First step for this to happen? Allow ourselves to live within the tension of DOING and BEING to collide in our lives.

For God’s desire to mold me like clay, I am grateful.

Blessings –

Dianne

Holy God – Few of us are willing to ready look at change. We just want things the way they always have been. This isn’t our reality right now. May we allow ourselves to become clay that is molded and shaped by you. Amen.

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