Like little flowers poking through cement, there are signs of life peeking out all around me after what has felt like a very long cold lonely winter, literally and metaphorically.
Vaccinations are increasing, restrictions are lifting, and people are testing out various ways of engaging in social activities.
There have been a lot of things I’ve relished through this passing season of isolation.
I’ve enjoyed beginning friendships with people around the world I likely never would have engaged with if I was caught up in my in-person life a few years ago.
I’ve loved the variety of online churches, podcasts, and blogs I’ve been able to seek out.
I’ve loved gathering around the table, sharing a meal with my family during a service or event.
I’ve loved being able to pause videos and discuss questions or look up references, rewinding to get a second listen to something I missed or didn’t understand.
I LOVE that I can’t remember how long it’s been since I stood awkwardly through an in-person church “Meet and Greet” moment in the middle of a service.
Quarantine has been a really good excuse not to participate in uncomfortable things.
It can be temptingly easy to hide behind a laptop screen, text wall, and quarantined home instead of engaging with people.
I legitimately stand by our decisions about the level of separation we engaged in…..and….It can also turn into an excuse.
But Covid and other physical health issues aren’t the only reason we end up separated and isolated.
My season of separation began long before Covid was a thing.
Getting divorced in a culture which holds to (largely unwritten) beliefs about divorce being one of the only sins which wasn’t covered on the cross (along with homosexuality, views on hymns vs. choruses and coffee’s place in a sanctuary) will drastically limit your involvement in many circles.
So will questioning the practices and rules of your faith system.
And like the isolation of COVID, there can be benefits to having some time alone AND it can become a shroud we choose to surround ourselves with, keeping ourselves quarantined and isolated because of the words and actions of others, and by our own choices.
As the ice melts, the vaccines roll out, and my counselor gently challenges me, I feel the possibilities of the world opening up.
The world opening up is not just about getting back to what we’ve always done.
Any season of separation or change is an opportunity to re-evaluate how we want to engage moving forward. It’s also a challenge to stretch out and strengthen muscles which have atrophied during lack of use.
One new friend told me they feel like they’ve forgotten how to do date nights, or anything special.
How do we re-engage in relationships intentionally – not just falling back into old patterns, but taking the time to evaluate what’s important to us, what our boundaries are, and what creates healthy relationships?
How do we dig out from under old habits, rules, and expectations we used to be buried under to Uncover Real relationships?
I don’t know.
But I’m looking forward to spending Season 2 of Uncovering Real exploring how we evaluate and pursue healthy relationships.
Join me here for Season 2 of Uncovering Real every Monday, Wednesday and Friday as I walk through different relationships (Mondays), reflect on what relationships have to do with faith (Wednesdays) and highlight artists that challenge and encourage me (Fridays).
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Uncovering Real 