Simple Treasures

Before getting into what I really wanted to write about, I wanted to get vulnerable and authentic for a second. Because in honesty? I’m pretty scared right now. But, why should I be? The younger people are invincible, and the older people have lived through worse, right?

Actually, that’s what really, really scares me – because I see a lot of that mentality, and it’s so falsely informed. It scares me because it shows that a lot of us aren’t taking this seriously. We’re going to the beach with friends, or throwing get-togethers, or making needless trips to the stores. Everyone - young and old alike - think they’re invincible. And who knows, maybe some of them are.

Unfortunately, hundreds of millions of us aren’t. There are people like me, who are immunocompromised and have underlying health issues. There are women who are pregnant. There are parents who have babies at home. There are grandmas and grandpas who are high risk just because of their age group. There are people with asthma or other lung diseases like cystic fibrosis. Just because you personally might be okay, doesn’t mean the others you could spread it to will be. When we don’t take this seriously, we are telling people who are high-risk that their lives and health aren’t worth our fun trip to the beach, or the extra trip to the store, or the movie night with friends. I am begging you, brothers and sisters, please take this seriously.

After all of that, what I really wanted to focus on was the other side of what all of this isolation brings: the decline of our mental health.

I suffer from depression, a panic disorder, and PTSD. I am a high extrovert, which means I need to be around other people to get my energy. Being an extrovert with depression makes isolation extra hard on my mental health – and there are hundreds of millions, if not a few billion, of you who understand. I’ve lost all motivation. Until recently, I lost all joy and motivation in my yoga, which helps me so much. I’ve lost all desire and joy in my writing. Spending time with Jesus started becoming a chore. I was so tired and so sad all of the time.

This is probably one of the very few times in history where everyone across the globe is in the same situation. We’re all shut off from one another, scrambling for basic necessities, unable to leave our homes unless for essential purposes…While many of us have far more advantages and privileges than most of those around the globe, we are all missing one thing: human connection.

It’s terrifying for someone like me to know that in order to keep myself and others healthy, then I have to stay home at all costs. I’ve cried often because my body is physically and emotionally drained from not being able to be around people. My spirit is broken because on the harshest of my pain days, when I just want a hug from my mom, I can’t get it. I want to be able to go to church, and go see my friends in Warsaw and at Ruby Tuesday. I want to be able to start volunteering again, and finally get a job! I want to have family game nights and do family yoga. I want to be able to go to small group with my friends, and have a coffee date with my bestie. I want to be able to go on a date with my husband!

These are such simple treasures. It seems silly to want, even need things like this, but we do. We so desperately physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually need human connection. We can have everything we need to survive – food, water, shelter, and clothing – and still not have those “simple treasures” we need to really live. We were created to be relational; I mean we were literally designed for connection (Genesis 2:18). I’ve been beating myself up about being sad about needing the “simple treasures,” because everyone in the world is missing them right now. We’re all in the same boat! But here’s the thing: that should drive us. It should drive us to find ways to get that human connection - those simple treasures - we all so desperately need.

This is a really scary time, brothers and sisters. Suicide rates are already on the rise, and mental health is only going to continue to decline. If you have so chosen to become a child of God, then it’s still your calling to reach the lost - even if you have to do it from your couch. We have a beautiful opportunity for ministry right now. If this pandemic had to occur, then there was never a better time, because we are prepared. God has blessed human intelligence with the design of technology, and we can reach people in ways we could never have before.

There are so many opportunities for technologically-driven outreach right now. We can uplift the community and bring more motivation into all of our lives in so many unexpected ways. FaceTime your friends and make it a consistency. Do a family game night over Zoom. Text anyone and everyone and find out how they’re all doing. Write a thoughtful email and give someone a call. Add your old high school friends on Facebook and catch up with them. Keep up with everyone on social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat. Start your TikTok career (just kidding, but remember me if you do get famous). In all seriousness, you have an insurmountable amount of outreach opportunities just sitting in your hand. Use them.

This call? It’s not just for you. This is for everyone. You are not the only person who needs to do outreach – people need to reach out to you. You are just as important as everyone around you, and you are just as loved. Make sure - for your health - that you have people in your life pouring into you as you pour into others.

Our calling hasn’t changed. Our purpose hasn’t changed. Only the world has changed - and don’t you dare let that stop you.

”For I am confident in this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6