Uncertainties in the Slow Life

Who would’ve guessed that we would be living in a time of a term called social

distancing? I am a very energetic individual that gets my energy from being around other people. My top love language is quality time, which makes this whole quarantine really hard and challenging for me.

Rewind to about two weeks ago and I was just getting back from my trip to Guyana with my team members. Before this trip I had never heard of anyone speak about the coronavirus. I was trying to adjust back into class and the fast pace life that I hadn’t lived for the last two weeks. There was distant talk on campus about the coronavirus and what was happening to people in other countries. Resident Assistant meetings soon began to happen sporadically as to how Ohio, and specifically how MVNU was going to respond to this pandemic. My college soon decided to move classes online but encouraged students to stay on campus as they would help prevent the spread of the virus. After about a week of being on campus with my friends, we soon found out that we had around three to four days to move out of our apartments and move back home for the remainder of the semester. People were in tears, especially the seniors. People were devastated because they thought that they would have so much more time to spend with friends, to make memories, to get to know more people on campus, and the list continues. Before I could even process what was happening after my friends and I had received the devastating email, I had to attend a mandatory RA meeting. At the meeting we were filled in about how the next few days would look and what to tell residents if they asked any questions. In a blink of an eye it felt that the world had stopped in time.

I am staying on campus until May 1st alongside twenty-five other students. Throughout the week until Thursday the official moves out date, we said some tough goodbyes to friends. In less than a couple hours, my life slowed down drastically. I began the process of taking online classes through zoom, discussion posts, forums, videos, and papers. Days seemed to run closely together, and things started becoming a blur. My life soon became a simple life filled with a couple people, as if I was back in Guyana not worrying about the time of day. Living a simple life often terrifies people because they are so caught up in the world. Since restaurants, business, coffee shops, gyms, and many more facilities closed until further notice, it forces people to be interactive with family members and friends. College students especially have more free time than they know what to do. People are having to be creative in activities and how they can enjoy nature in a different way. We are simply living life and the future is unknown. No one knows how long this pandemic will last or how hard it will hit America.

We see throughout the Bible of Jesus living a very simple life with his twelve disciples. He never spoke about what he owned or the possessions that he had. Right now, people feel that they have lost a part of their life. You have lost your senior year, your sports season, memories with friends, a job, an internship, car, and so much more. You're uncertain about the future and where life if going to take you. You see people were defining their lives in the world. I find myself defining who I am often by the friends I have, the school I am studying, my job, my major in college, and so much more. But what if there was so much more to life than what the world has to offer? People are struggling to stay indoors and being content with the simple things that they have around themselves. 1 Timothy 6:6-8 states, “But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content” (ESV). Paul is talking in this verse about the essentials that we need in our life also known as the difference between needs and wants. People today are so focused on success, job title, money, and luxury. As Christians we should be seeking after a life filled with God. Jesus lived a simple life with his disciples as we see in Mathew 8:18-22. Jesus in this section of the bible explains to the disciples the cost of following him. Their life was filled with uncertainties because every day was a new step of faith in their journey with Christ. In verse 20 Jesus states, “foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (ESV). Jesus depended on others for a place to live and was content with having little to nothing. I am reminded during this time that nothing in this life is ours.

As you live out the social distancing orders in affect by President Donald Trump, I challenge you with a question. How are you spending your extra time throughout the day? Are you content with your life free of distractions? God calls us to live a simple life in the same way that he lived one with his closest disciples. Take this time to dive into the Bible, start a Bible study on zoom, learn a new worship song, journal, make a new friend, love on others, pray, get creative, or go outside and enjoy nature. God wants to hear from you in the busiest moments and the simplest moments of your life. The uncertainties and this unfamiliar life can be scary but hold onto the promises of God during these uncertain times. God is with his children throughout every step-in life. Hold onto the simple things that you have right now in your life because those are those only things that we need. What is holding you back and what are you uncertain about in this new unfamiliar world?