We asked friends and family about how this past year has been for them and if there’s anything they wanted to share related to the past year. Below are some perspectives from Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.

Note: some who shared preferred some anonymity so they do not have any bios or full names included. We’ve included age and location to help provide some context.

 

Covid Afterthoughts

At first it was a novelty and a fear of the unknown stalker... the virus, which seemed distant to our suburban homeland yet changed our routine, day-to-day functioning. Living through times of isolation created a personal struggle for identity and purpose for existence. After two months of house quarantine, just as I felt I could not, at my age, continue with my weekly volunteer service because it was too crowded, I was able to begin serving at another relief organization to fill a different void. My husband and I also struggled to extend grace to some around us who felt it was faithlessness on our part to exercise caution in our exchanges with our community. During the summer we enjoyed many sunny Sundays of worship socially distanced in the church parking lot with fellowship that is so vital to the believer's life. In the fall, preparing to meet again in person at church, we could sense the tightrope of shepherding the flock in these challenging times but knew too that God's plans are for unity not division.

I still have posted at home the last in-person bulletin dated March 15, 2020... on the cover is the verse: "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33b, NIV).

-Anonymous, 64, from Pennsylvania

What a Year

 What a year. A year we can try to forget, but may never be able to. A lot of songs will be written about this past year, most likely in the Blues category... With Covid, politics and running out of toilet paper, 2020 wasn’t pretty.

As I look back and as we look forward, I am reminded of God’s comforting presence. A few months ago my pastor gave a sermon that had us think about worship expression with our body language. Upraised arms, open hands, palms up… he didn’t mention the one I thought of right away, simple cupped hands. This worship expression became very personal in the hospital during my cancer experience many years ago. I was the only person in God’s cupped hands. I was on my knees in a hospital gown, but I was in HIS protection, and the only one in HIS hands, just God and me. Think about that, picture it if you can, God with the whole world, the universe in his hands, all the millions of individuals, but He cares for me, knows how many hairs are on my head, every bone and muscle that hurts (oops, now I’m sounding old).

Heading forward, put yourself in that picture, into God’s hands…alone… You are loved by God like no other human could love you, beyond our comprehension. He cares for each of us beyond our understanding. It’s just a big, breathless WOW!

I’d like to leave you with this prayer, Be at Peace, from Saint Francis de Sales; my wife has had this posted on our refrigerator for years and I now have it posted at my work:

Do not look forward in fear to the changes in life: rather look to them with full hope as they arise. God, whose very own you are, will deliver you from out of them. God has kept you hitherto and will lead you safely through all things… Do NOT fear what may happen tomorrow: the same everlasting God who cares for you today will take care of you then and everyday. God will either shield you from suffering or will give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at Peace and put aside all anxious thoughts and imaginations.

Go in peace and know you are in God’s cupped hands.

- Mr. Clair M., 65, from Pennsylvania

 

Opportunities Abound

 In spite of being laid off, and the isolation and sadness of missing wedding celebrations, holidays, and birthdays, I’ve found some important silver linings in this season. My job was stressful and didn’t pay very well. It kept many of my side projects and special interests on the back burner, just waiting to be picked up again. Within weeks of being laid off I was able to revive my side business, start writing again, and get to many small projects around the house I’d otherwise not had time for. The biggest silver lining by far, though, has been seeing churches around the country making hard changes and getting creative in how we minister and worship.

From the comfort of my home each Sunday I’ve been able to "visit" with and sample dozens of online worship services near and far. I’ve seen churches that were once reluctant to make even the smallest changes, invest in the technologies that will serve the Kingdom more and more in the future, all while carefully keeping as much true connection and tradition as possible.

I’ve gotten to sit under the teachings of Black and female leaders, and gotten to share in the worship music of many different voices and styles. Most importantly, I’ve gotten to hear God’s voice through so many faces, perspectives, and traditions. Surely, this was available to me before, but now even more so.

My plan as we’re able to return to freer forms of gathering and worship, is to continue to seek out and find God in and through others. 

Matt Reffie, 38, lives in Massachusetts with his wife, Audrey. He studied Church History and sells antique documents and ephemera for a living. He grew up in rural Pennsylvania and has worked with Lutheran, Baptist, Presbyterian, and Mennonite congregations as an associate pastor, deacon, and campus minister over the years. He thoroughly enjoys being 'tickle monster' to their ten nieces and nephews.

 

My Teenage Quarantine Life

 I feel like my life has been stressful ever since quarantine started. School got hard for me because I don't get as much help as before quarantine started. In the beginning of the school year, we all had to do virtual school and it wasn’t that good for me.

The work got ten times harder without teachers there in person. It's much different because you aren't in front of the teacher and the teacher's not there to give you hints. But now with things settled down more, I go to school every day. Mainly because of band and football.

Being back in school hasn't been that fun because I don't see all my friends. It also feels different because you don't see many kids in the hall. High school football is starting in the spring this year. It’s been delayed for a while, because of COVID and weather problems, like the snow. Football helps, but band especially makes school feel normal again. I play percussion.

Working on my body weight was another reason why quarantine was hard for me. I couldn't work out that much because I live on the second floor of an apartment building. The neighbors would complain whenever I did workouts too loudly, like jumping jacks and up-and-downs. In the middle of quarantine, I realized I was gaining weight. I was really worried about my health. But then I started biking more, and walking back and forth to school when it opened up again.

The days after school, I would usually in my free time sleep or play video games with friends online. Playing games helped since I didn't see my friends because of social distancing. But it also didn't help as much, because not all my friends have video games. During quarantine, sometimes I would sleep the whole day away. To be honest, I sometimes did that before quarantine. But it just made it worse because I couldn't go outside when I wanted.

One big thing quarantine taught me is working on yourself is the best thing. You learn more things about yourself than you thought. For me, I learned about my health and that I had a low metabolism. Like before quarantine, I didn't realize how much weight I could gain. It changed my routine because now every time I eat something, I work out right away. I also learned how much I love music. Ever since quarantine started, my interest in music bloomed like crazy. The big reason why I love band now is because of all the music I listened to. A lot of R&B. It's one of my favorite genres.

I'm also following the George Floyd trial right now, because it's a big part of our history. The police brutality needs to stop.

I don't want to see this happen to any more Black people, including my friends or my family. Even though I'm a teenager, I think about this stuff because it could still happen to me. So I’ve had a lot to think about this past year. 

Tony Jones, 18, is a junior at Mount Pleasant High School in Providence, RI. He enjoys playing in the school band and hopes to one day study music at Brown University.