SPECIAL EDITION: A YEAR IN RETROSPECT
One year ago today, we were sitting in the dining room of the Grand Princess, on a cruise with our family, returning from Hawaii. As I was finishing my steak and kidney pie, the announcement came. COVID was discovered onboard (except at that time, everyone called it “Coronavirus”). We were confined to our cabins for six days, and at Travis Air Force Base for two weeks. Traveling with three small children, our family experienced many challenging, yet lighthearted moments. The media loved our human-interest story.
Interviews followed on television, radio, podcasts and newspapers—even The Today Show and Good Morning America. Since then, I’ve written two books, Thriving in Quarantine, a number-one best-seller on Amazon, chronicling our family’s misadventures on the Grand Princess. A companion volume, Thriving in Troubled Times, dives into the spiritual principles that can empower us all to prevail over our circumstances. Both are available on Amazon.
Face it. It’s been tough year. Who would have imagined we’d still be “stuck” in the same routine 365 days later? We no longer take indoor dining, attending movies, and airline travel for granted. Distance learning in schools, job losses, and business closures pose great concerns. Worldwide, suicides have increased (in some cases, up to 145%). Divorce rates, domestic violence, and mental illness cases have soared. (See Psychiatric Annals, 2020; 50). Taking a candid look at the big picture, the economic and emotional impact appear to far outweigh health concerns. “The cure is worse than the disease” seems fitting.
OK, enough bad news. The good news is we’re learning to trust God— giving up any pretense that we have control over our lives. We’re developing a much deeper sense of gratitude for life’s simple blessings. We’re learning to value each moment, living in the present, rather than “future-tripping.”
“Finding hidden blessings even in the worst of circumstances” is the byline of my first book. A profound truth we all need to heed (Romans 8:28). Some of God’s greatest treasures are tied-up in troubles. Let’s put our perspective on God’s promises, rather than our problems. Entrust our tragedies to Jesus, and watch Him transform them into triumphs. He’ll turn our laments into laughter and our “tests” into “test-imonies.” (OK, enough alliterations for one article!) We need to stay out of His way—to step back and watch Him work. Even in quarantine. Even in tough times. He’s still there, and He still rules over the universe.