In the midst of all the bad news over the past many days, there’s a silver lining. The Coronavirus COVID-19 has helped us.
What? Helped us?
Absolutely. It seems like we have rediscovered family. Community. Neighborhood.
We have gone from packed parking lots to empty parking lots. Busy streets to empty streets. Packed malls to barren malls.
The silver lining…
Neighborhoods are full of people.
Sidewalks are busy.
Front yards and back yards hum with activity.
Children chase each other carrying sticks.
Chalk dust fills the air as children paint on driveways and sidewalks.
Cars drive slowly down neighborhood streets as families walk, ride bikes, pull wagons, and walk dogs.
Scooters lay piled on a driveway as brothers and sisters chase after each other around the corner of a house.
Scents of burgers, hot dogs, and steaks fill the air as families cook out together.
Yes, the coronavirus wreaks havoc somewhere. We’ve taken a financial hit. There are real problems.
However, in the midst of this, I am encouraged. The sights, smells, sounds, and experiences land deeply into my soul.
Social Media Tells the Same Story
I posted the following statement on my Facebook page yesterday:
Interesting observation of the day… I’ve never seen this many children & entire families walking down sidewalks, playing in yards, & seemingly having fun. COVID-19 might be wrecking the economy, but it looks like families are discovering spending time together as units outside. Tis refreshing to see!
Immediately people began to comment…
TM: Same in our neighborhood. 😊
KD: We were one of them, but you are absolutely correct. So many families enjoying time together.
KG: I’ve seen kids walking down our street whom I don’t recognize. I had no idea there were so many kids in our neighborhood 😂
WN: Same here! Love hearing the laughter from our around ♥️
MR: Our UPS driver stopped and said, “I’ve never seen so many people outside!” 😆
LA: Yes, nice to see people outside. I’m also enjoying the flowers in bloom.
DS: I saw a mother and daughter (presumably) playing catch in the yard on the way home! It was a “throwback “!
MEK: We just finished taking a walk and talking about the same thing! I hate the circumstances causing this, but it’s a great wake up call for families to see what we’ve been missing out on with our overly busy lives.
SH: That’s what I thought too, i have seen more people out in my neighborhood the last 2 days than I have seen in the 7 years I have lived here.
JCH: It’s all we did today! We finally had a beautiful, sunny day!
RR: Out delivering pizzas today (being essential) and noticed the same thing. It gave me the biggest smile and brought joy to my heart.
THW: It’s the same here!! 😍 and so did CH and CT and CB and KT and BH.
And many more…
The Silver Lining
How wonderful. It may be good to slow down our lives a bit. Stay home more as a family. Say “No” to a few things. Push the kids outside – together.
Jill commented, “…This time has been great.”
Betsy wrote, “I think God has a plan for this.”
Yes Jill and Betsy! No doubt God works providentially even through a virus to help us see the big picture.
For some of us, we remember these kinds of days of family, neighbors, community, and a slower pace.
For many of us, these moments were made for TV, mere Hallmark-ish, something parents talk about, part of old family pictures.
I’m a bit idealistic and pollyannaish at times; however I’m not unrealistic in this sense that I do not believe this will continue long-term. However, I hope that we take some lessons here. I trust we will see the value and benefit of time together as families, neighborhoods, communities, and eventually as churches.
But for now, I’m going to be encouraged, enjoy the silver lining, and take advantage of this opportunity!
KevinCarson.com | Wisdom for Life in Christ Together