Long and Slow

Morning dawns with extravagance over our now, mostly silent, world.

And social-isolation is the new buzz word.

Seems like we are all taking part in a divine set-up where the busyness of everyday has stilled and there is now ample time for families to re-connect, for self evaluation, for cleaning out areas long neglected and there is space to re-think priorities.

Time to hear that still small voice that is always calling and inviting...

Come unto me...

Not that we are all making good use of this time - I know that I am still pre-occupied with projects and just trying to keep the house clean without my cleaning lady dropping by once every two weeks!

In the picture above  I am steam cleaning the floors after I vacuumed upstairs.  It was a very long, slow, and arduous process for which my body paid a price.

However, the clean floors have been smiling up at me every day since then.  

There was also the need to drag big jugs of warm soapy water outside to give Ladybug a thorough bath (after which she immediately ran to the grass and rubbed her face in the leaves)!

My quilt got a wash and then I hung it outside where it dried in the sun, later smelling like a fresh spring breeze when I lay on my bed. 

Mom has been having outings on the back patio when it is warm enough but the Spring has been long and slow in coming, along with everything else. 

One day after I dropped Mom off at Tante Hilda's I decided to expand my social isolation circle to include a lakeside walk with Leanne. We did pretty good with the social distance thing until I got tired and she started to push my wheelchair. 

It was a cold day indeed, but refreshing to be outside and to see the lake close up for a change.

There were few people out so it was easy to stay far away from them. 

It is strange to drive through the city now.

Reminiscent of old Kelowna when the streets were so much emptier and there was ample parking pretty much everywhere.

There have been gatherings of our small circle for supper a couple of times a week.  Dear Tante Hilda is on her own so much since the ladies in her apartment have been instructed by their children not to be with others.

That seems so unkind and sad, but I know everyone is simply trying to do what is best for the common good. 

There is much, much suffering going on in the world as a result of this virus. I personally wonder if we are over-reacting just a bit as I heard today that 99% of the people who have gotten the virus have recovered.

That was some really good news for a change. 

There have been a number of extra days of prayer and fasting on top of the 40 day fast going on.

The worldwide church is actually doing the 2 Chronicles 7:14 thing!

Much repentance, humbling, prayer and seeking God's face. 

So our little group that usually meets Monday nights to pray on my bed decided to meet outside where we could be at least 6 feet apart while praying.  

It was SO good to be together and we ended with communion.  Everyone brought their own cup and bread to prevent the spread of anything.

There have also been numerous opportunities to pray with the national body and the global body through an online forum. 

It's an unprecedented, powerful move of God throughout the world.

We are all in our homes watching the leaders on the screen, listening in, praying along, repenting and agreeing for God's Kingdom to come and then in unity we take the communion elements together.  

I feel so privileged to be on the earth "for such a time as this" and my prayers are mingled with millions of others for a global harvest and for an end to this epidemic, for the lessening of suffering and for relief. 

My fasting has more or less turned into eating mostly fruits and vegetables but it is also expanding in its width and depth! (As am I.) 

May Jesus gather up these little efforts of mine together with those around the world for great good.

The evening sun calls to me and little Ladybug has gotten a few walks during this quiet time.

She's probably wondering what on earth happened to Anita, her walking buddy.  Anita has decided to stay home from Iqaluit to look after her dad at a new place in town.

He was too lonely and getting depressed in his care home so she took him out and is living in a residential care home with him as of yesterday. 

This evening was particularly beautiful and it brought another quiet but peaceful day on the orchard to a close.  

Seclusion and Peace

We have slowly been immersed into a life of seclusion over the past week.

Mom went to her last "senior's club" this past Monday and outings are now pretty much relegated to picking up groceries while keeping one's distance from everyone else.

Or, with some ingenuity we can manage to meet up without coming too close....

Some of our tribe took part in a 3 day, world-wide "Esther Fast" to repent and seek God for an end to this virus that is wreaking destruction around the world.

Zoe called me and asked if we could somehow meet so I suggested we sit far apart on the back patio while we participated in worship, prayer and communion.  So, on 20/2020 two others joined us via phone and we had our virtual prayer meeting.  We were praying prayers and making decrees along with tens of thousands of others on this very day.  

So grateful for the internet keeping us all connected in ways that were unheard of in previous generations.
I have been able to be a part of several "on-line" gatherings, one of them including thousands of believers all partaking in prayer and communion all across the world at exactly the same time.
Heaven is abuzz with activity and we will one day know what these acts of unity and love accomplished. 

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I also was able to spend an hour or so on FaceTime with my dear Patrice who was celebrating her 29th birthday on the 20th.   Kind of disappointing that none of us could be with her on her special day, but thankfully she is surrounded by a beautiful community and had a chance to go to the ocean with two of her A Rocha colleagues where they enjoyed fish and chips while keeping an appropriate distance from one another.  

And yesterday Daniel & Penny met with her for another ocean walk...while practicing "social distancing" as Daniel informed me.  He is very aware of the need for caution as he is working in a medical setting and is in greater danger of being infected or passing the virus along unknowingly. 

So fun that they included me in this way.  

My sweet, precious kids.

Poor dear Nicole wasn't able to join in due to a migraine.  

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On the external level, things have ground to a halt and the world is still.

We have been granted a "Selah" to pause and reflect.

To cease from activity and to get off the proverbial "hamster wheel".

I pray that this will be a time of deep inner searching and cleansing.

A reset.

I have been confronted with my own addictive behaviours as I have been participating in a "modified" 40 day fast during this season of lent.  

Realizing how quickly and easily I run to familiar comforts to quiet myself when I feel restless or out of sorts.  

I want to be renewed in this season of self denial - as small as the denials really are, they are working something in me.  

I want Jesus to be the centre of it all.  He alone is the one who brings true satisfaction and fulfillment.

I was created for Him, to bring Him glory and joy.

We are, I am, oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord for the display of His Splendour.

Whenever we forget that and start to live for our own glory and pleasure everything starts to unravel.

Selfishness is a great enemy.
Jesus is the antidote.

So I embrace the stillness.

It's not really so far from my normal life, but I know everything is different.

I sit in stillness with the rest of the world and ponder.  

I move away from fear and embrace peace.

Let Him be my constant companion.

Jehova Shalom.