“#QuarantineGoals”                     "May GOD give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.”  2 Chronicles 15:7

You have likely heard the saying “a goal is a dream with a deadline”.

In a Global Pandemic, your first goal should be to stay healthy.  That is my hope, my dream, my goal for my family.  We accomplish this through social distancing, staying at home unless we are going for a walk or otherwise doing an essential activity.  It’s boring, mundane, and frustrating at times, but it is the easiest way for us to ensure we aren’t becoming infected or infecting others.

That is a baseline goal for me.  I have other important goals during this Global Pandemic as well.

One of my top goals is to continue to keep a rhythm and routine during this time.  While other pastors are recording their sermons and services on Monday’s or Tuesday’s; we are still broadcasting live on Sunday mornings.  Jenna has become quite an accomplished videographer I might add!

It helps my mental health to maintain office hours during the week, continue to work on the bulletin and PowerPoint, and all the other pastoral duties I can do during this time.  It keeps me grounded and the routine helps center me.  Staying connected with you all helps me feel a sense of normalcy and I value that.  I continue to pray, read scripture, and meditate so that I continue to engage my spirit daily.

The other top goal I have during this mandated stay at home order is I want to become a better father and a better husband.  I find I am becoming more attentive, engaged more fully, and learning patience and acceptance in a new way.  While we are certainly spending more time together than we perhaps ever have, we are spending MORE quality time together as well.  We are learning a lot about each other.

The other final main goal I have is I want to continue my fitness goals I started two years ago.  I set time aside each day to stretch, exercise, and eat well.  Working out is a fantastic stress reliever, can be done at home easily, and works in conjunction with other important factors to help you stay holistically healthy (which is important in a global health crisis!).  We also mustn’t forget our mental health and be sure to care for our mental well-being as well.

Our scripture reading today is simple.  May our goals and dreams have an end and come to fruition.  May we lean into God so that we are working towards a certain finality rather than an abstract ending.  This is difficult.  We have been told many times that we are not running a sprint but rather a marathon but it is a marathon with no finish line.  The finish line keeps moving and edging further and further away!  We must continue to pace ourselves, rest when needed, and continue to work towards whatever goals we have.   What are your goals during this difficult time?

I am praying for you all this week as we continue through the uncertainty of this time.  I pray you find ways to stay motivated and engaged as well as settle into routines that inspire you and carry you through the difficult days. 

Blessings,

Rev. Lou Ward