A Worldwide Time-Out
This self-enforced isolation is one of the hardest components of this crisis. The cessation of so many things that used to make up my days and nights: restaurants, movies, gatherings with friends/family, hiking, bike rides … just simply interacting with other people.
Since I am not a medical professional or essential services person, I do not get to help on the front lines of this battle. Instead my battlefield is my own mind. Fear and despair are doing their very best to infect me, so I asked God to reframe this time in a way that leads to hope and not despair.
He gave me an image of my daughter from many years ago when she was deep in her “terrible twos.” Now she is a perfectly lovely adult, but as a toddler she was high strung and prone to multiple (hundreds?) of temper tantrums a day. We tried every parenting technique under the sun, but the thing that worked best was for her to sit for several minutes in her “time-out” stool. Although she hated it, the time-out stool allowed her a place to settle. I would watch from the doorway as her frantic, outraged energy slipped off her rigid shoulders and was replaced with quiet breaths and a relaxed posture. Her belligerent screams or tears would slowly dissipate into words: ones that helped her express what she was actually upset about (which usually did not match the screaming tirades). On the little table next to her time-out stool I always left a few special toys that she could turn her attention to when she settled. After a minute or two, I would see her joyfully notice these treasures and begin to engage in a gentler, kinder activity than the tantrum of before.
What my daughter didn’t realize was that the time-out chair held a place of peace for her rather than a place of punishment and torment. Her few minutes of stillness helped her collect herself, quiet her emotions, and then express what was actually happening internally.
For those who cannot be on the front lines of this battle, but must sit at home in isolation, what if we all decided to use this time as a worldwide time out? A hard reset on the frantic, overextended, or apathetic ways we have all tended to go about life, pushing down or numbing the parts of us that are crying out for examination, rest, or repair.
What are the habit patterns in my life that I can step back and see are life-draining rather than life-giving? Or full-on destructive?
What are practices or experiences I’ve longed for, but never allowed myself the time to try out?
What relationships need repair? What fences could be mended?
Where I have ignored my needs or the needs of others?
What would God have me use this time for that brings blessing and love to the world around me?
In my case, this is not reading more news or repeating horror stories I’ve heard from someone else. It’s also not continually re-envisioning worst case scenarios or deep-seated fears. Instead, it’s living in this present moment of life, practicing greater connection with my God, my family, and the people around me, in my sphere of community.
Although much of this happens over phone and computer right now, I know these are the treasures on the table next to me. There is life and hope in them; I just have to quiet myself and pick them up.