Six To Seven: A Lockdown Diary
At the time of this writing, it's been six to seven months in lockdown due to COVID-19. Life as we know it has never been the same. The whole world stopped. Like me, the average dad lost their job. But that's nothing compared to some fathers, both small and great, who lost a loved one in this crisis. Yes, our different worlds have stopped altogether, by force or by choice, and yet we move on. As the hymnal goes, "Because He lives, I can face tomorrow." For believers, we have a different story. Our Lord Jesus makes all the difference!
Six to seven doubts and questions
We don't live in despair, but we live driven - by the grace of God. At six in the morning and seven in the evening, I found myself engaged in moments of worship, prayer, and Bible reading. I am blessed to be part of a caring church with hardworking pastors that provided an online morning devotions at 6 am and an evening mini-service at 7 pm. Oh, how I needed the Lord more than ever!
Although questions linger and doubts lurk, they are not ignored. These Q's and D's slow us down, a dead-weight to our souls. And so we meet them head-on. God does not shy away from scrutiny. Like Job of old, we end up, almost always, taking back what was said. I allow faith to collide against these elements, and I will eventually witness an explosion of light and revelation.
Six to seven work mode
From six in the morning until seven in the evening, I found myself at work at anything that will support life on my own planet. This is my share of the new normal in this sudden unprecedented abnormality. I don't travel to the office anymore, and it dawned on me, wasn't this something we have always wanted some time ago? Well, except for these "chains."
We know how to work; we just don’t know how to get paid. We take on this responsibility, but we also don't want to be guilty of just being a busybody. We work on finding a job within Christian parameters. A statesman-turned-prophet once said, "If you don't stand firm in your faith, you won't stand at all." (See Isaiah 7:9)
Six to seven, and beyond
After dinner, and after putting the kids to sleep (and putting off the desire to sleep with them,) I take on an after-work. Earlier in the night, the community siren blared at 8 pm, a nagging monotone saying, "It's curfew time. Everyone must return to their homes." But we already stayed home all day. Can't we just enjoy the dark skies from the streets, at least?
But just like a stage changing its set, the neighborhood turns into a ghost town, no warm body can be seen. Hmmm. We are our own ghosts now, haunting the memory of what it was like before the quarantine.
In my makeshift cubicle/workstation, the letters on my keyboard noisily react to my fingers. A chorus of dogs barking relentlessly somewhere down the street joins the sound effects. An occasional strumming of the guitar can also be heard; quite faint, yet music.
Six to seven answers and reasons
As the strength of my black coffee starts to wane, and my eyelids start to dim, I dream of a work that will bless my kids. As I arose from my seemingly futile efforts, and begin to drowse into another realm, I am reminded: The Lord is faithful. God gives sleep to those He loves. I live today; fight tomorrow. The Author of life holds the pen, and He writes a good ending. If it's not yet good, it's not the end. This six to seven series will cease to persist, but the Lord is sovereign over us all.
In a few short hours, I will return to the abode of the living workforce. My six to seven continues, but Eternity never ends.