Yep, these are trying times. Still!

My son was supposed to get married last weekend. I was supposed to gain a daughter-in-law. Two families were supposed to become connected forever.

But it didn’t happen.

How do you move through a life-changing event that was supposed to happen, but couldn’t? Do you fast-forward through the date, focusing on the future plans? Or do you thoughtfully remember what could be happening if it weren’t for COVID-19?

How do you craft an appropriate wish for such a tender time?

It’s a delicate situation, for sure.

I’m betting I’m not alone in my frustration with this new era of rescheduled living. Our calendars creep up on us and our pre-pandemic agendas demand attention.

Can we still make it happen? Is it safe? Is it wise? We can’t rely on routine, ritual, or even our past experience to guide us; there are just too many considerations.

COVID-living has ushered in a twilight zone of real and imagined, distorting our perspectives as its ripples affect each of us differently. Nevertheless, we have to accept what we can’t control and make the best decision possible.

Honestly, it’s almost become a daily chore. Each day requires reassessment:

What is possible to do today?
Are there new ways to do old things?
Is it safe?
Is it worth the risk?

Yep, I wrote a book entitled, Rethinking Possible, but this is ridiculous! Continually “rethinking what’s possible” is one grueling, energy-zapping effort.

Sigh.

But we need to do it. And to be honest, we’re good at it. Chaos can drive the most brilliant creativity. We are resourceful, inventive, and have deep innovation-based roots. We know how to look for possibilities within the false starts and failures. I know we will get through this and in some ways be better for it.

In fact, I don’t mind the clouds of uncertainty in this COVID-living era, as long as the sun pokes through from time to time!

Yet, this repetitive rethinking can make us brittle, impatient, and even unkind. It’s hard to be generous when we feel like so much has been taken from us.

I know the antidote: GRATITUDE. It’s always gratitude. It works every time! But:

You can’t get from acceptance to gratitude without rethinking your situation in the most positive light. And right now, that’s exhausting.

Sometimes we have to revisit our resources.

Although I still faithfully have my morning quiet times, lately I’ve come to rely on a 30-second video update from my precious Blakely Faye’s father, my son-in-law, Brian. He calls them, Covid Chronicles. His smiling face pops in daily to remind me of one positive thing—a positive infinity of sorts.

I’m not sure if it’s his smile, his comforting voice, the assurance that he and his family are okay, or the fact that I can count on his reminder of what day it is, but I look forward to those little snippets. In a strange way, they ground me, beaming through the clouds to encourage me.

And, I’m beyond grateful to my soon-to-be daughter-in-law’s creative family and the couples’ dedicated wedding party for finding just the right way to acknowledge the rescheduled wedding. Last Friday, during what would have been the rehearsal dinner, I joined them in surprising the couple with a zoom gathering of 23 and played this video for them. More rays of sunshine!

We all wish we could be celebrating you two today. Here is to a new countdown only 364 days to go…

Here’s wishing you the best in the days ahead, Mer and Pete!

How about you? Have you discovered a new resource to help you cope with rescheduled living? Tell me about it. I’d love to know.

And on we go. . .

P.S. Need another good prayer? Thanks for your positive comments about the new section on my website and my father’s Facebook page. His inspiring words (from 1997!) continue to help me press onward.