It’s the first real few days of quarantine here on the Gulf Coast and I’m feeling a lot like Rapunzel. I’ve cleaned out closets and dusted book shelves and read just about every book on them. And it’s only been like 3 days.
The interesting thing about quarantine is that it makes you think. I think as a culture we’ve become very uncomfortable with silence- we drown out our own introspective thoughts with schedules, gatherings, and over-commitments because if our calendars weren’t full, we might have to sit and actually deal with the real things of life. It’s hard and we seem to avoid it like the plague. But in this situation, we’re having to deal with our own thoughts because we’re trying to avoid the actual plague. “Oh, how the turn tables…”- Michael Scott
I used to be afraid of silence, but now I’m learning to appreciate it. I’m learning to not be afraid of time alone, but to embrace it.
I’m not married quite yet. I’ve been engaged, I’ve gotten un-engaged, I’ve fallen in love, then out of love, broken up with people and then broken up with by people. I still have a lot of life ahead of me don’t get me wrong (I’m only 24), but sometimes in the silence and the alone-ness I just wonder. The majority of my friends are married, engaged and some even are beginning to have children. All of this going on around me certainly starts to make me feel some pressure.
All my single/unmarried folks out there get it- it’s hard. I’m in no rush to get married or have children, but I do wonder when I’m going to find my person. Could be tomorrow or could be 3 years from now. Who really knows?
But here’s the place I’ve come to- I’m over trying to figure it out. I’ve found that there are a lot of parallels between this whole quarantine situation and being single/unmarried. We’re not going to be quarantined or single forever. One day soon (God willing), there will be a cure and we’ll come out of our house and go back to our busy lives. One day you’ll meet the person of your dreams and you won’t go back to it being just you on a Friday at home with a new book.
My point is- we’ve been given this time for a reason. What are we going to do with it?
I’m going to read, organize, and spend some time with Jesus and my family. I’ve also been saying for 2 years now that I’m going to try jiu-jitsu so when this whole thing is over y’all have to hold me accountable. Maybe I’ll YouTube some how-to videos until then.
On a more serious note, I want to make the most out of this time I have for myself. I’m still not sure what I want to be when I grow up, but I do know that somehow I want to change the world. Haven’t quite figured that out yet, but in the mean time, I’m going to push myself and hopefully grow into someone Jesus can use for big things- whatever those things may be.
Stay safe y’all. Wash your hands. Also, if you’re looking for a great Netflix show, try Love Is Blind (it’s a beautiful train wreck).
Bailey Kennon 