This year 2020 has seen unprecedented disruption and stress to everybody’s life.  COVID-19 at top of the list, but also civil unrest, social justice issues, less than ideal political situation.  Imagine losing a spouse or other loved one on top of all that.

My wife passed unexpectedly in March just before everything with COVID-19 started to unfold.  I’ve seen many sides of people good and bad in the last few months.

The main lesson I would like to pass along is, Slow Down In Life!!!  Let me say that again, SLOW DOWN IN LIFE!!!  Most of the things you are worried about right now mean a lot less than you think.  People are encountering stressful life events and not having the time to process.  I have seen this as one under stress, and in chaplain role ministering to others.

We’ve become such a fast-paced society we’re not letting people have space to grieve and share their feelings.  Suck it up and move on is the motto of times even though current theories say otherwise, what we say in theory isn’t always the reality.  There’s a reason God made one of the Ten Commandments a day of rest.  Even God in the Book of Genesis rested a day after Creating the Universe.  If the all Powerful needed a day of rest, what does that say to us?

I’ve learned the hard way that with some, not all, that “call me anytime you need something” slowly becomes “I’m busy with work”, “I’m busy with errands”, “I’m busy doing stuff……”.

You find out who your true family and friends are in a time of need.  Some will deeply fail and disappoint you.  We need to periodically take inventory of our priorities, goals in life, and who is part of our lives.  Some people you trust will turn on you when you least expect it.  Be focused on God and have a strong foundation in life by Trusting in God for what our activities, tasks, and people in our lives should be each day.

To balance out the negative, many have stepped up out of nowhere and shown support and love in ways never expected.  Your whole life changes when you lose a spouse, it’s like staring at a blank page and not knowing where to start.

As I started to move forward, getting all the critical one-time tasks completed, I slowly got back into being more active in the chaplain role and activities related to that.  I started to get contacted by others on social media having stressful events in life also.  People were bringing up recent stressful events, and some were still trying to process and come to terms with events that happened years ago.  We are robbing ourselves of a quality life and relationship God and other people by trying to just rush through life and not take the time needed to let life sink in, see if a new direction is calling and different goals or daily tasks.

These thoughts have been bouncing around in my mind for a few months.  I thought it was appropriate that God provided me some time on Labor Day Weekend to get these down in words.  Maybe a reminder that all parts of our life physically, emotionally, spiritually and mentally all take work to keep in sync with each other and to make the most of the gifts God has given us each to life our temporary life on Earth in the most Blessed Way!

Peace!

Tony Chaplain