I am still in Oregon with family. Besides the main event — a two-day wedding reception — I have been hiking some beautiful trails and enjoying the slightly cooler weather. This is an absolutely magnificent area of the United States if you are an outdoor enthusiast. This time of the year finds the river that runs through Bend full of rafts, kayaks, wind surfers and other water craft.

A big part of my brother’s older children and their families live here and the rest come several times a year to visit. My whole family is spread out all over the United States and getting together is always fun but a challenge. People of all ages, from babies to a couple of us that are in our 70s and 80s are scattered from North to South, East to West. Whenever we say our “goodbyes” we always wonder if and when we might see each other again, particularly the older ones.

Life is “fragile.” Although we hope to carry on a “normal” family relationship, things happen. Certainly the virus changed things for a lot of us as family. Because some of my family had health issues they were dealing with, we could not meet like we used to (indoor dinner times for example). Then other things complicated our opportunities to be together.

I have been pleasantly surprised to see some of the creative ways people find to be together even if it is just “virtually.” One of my friends has a “sit down dinner” with her family each week by doing Facetime at the agreed upon day and time. My sisters and I actually scheduled Facetime chats for a while. Later we met at a designated area to walk together and we are still doing that most every week we are all three in town. We do have an occasional meal together but certainly not on a weekly basis as before.

Thank goodness, this time of the year out here, as well as in Thomasville, many events can be scheduled outside. Our whole weekend wedding event was done that way and it was rather delightful.

Will doing life ever look the same? I don’t know, but some good things have come out of the caution and distancing that has been required. Online church attendance has skyrocketed, with many ministries and perhaps even more people being impacted in a positive way than we realize. Many families that have had to spend much more time together has drawn those families closer.

Of course, the opposite is also true. Many other families whose relationship was already fragile had more stress placed upon them. Some of the resulting outcomes were not good. Also, many people decided rather than find a virtual expression of fellowship and discipleship; they would rather go to the beach or do something with family or friends and have completely forsaken the fellowship that the Bible strongly encourages us to continue. (Hebrews 10:23-25) “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching.”

Adverse circumstances have a way of helping you get a better perspective on life, if you can be honest with yourself. The things that are really important and hold value are the things you will try to find a way to continue. Friends and family are at the top of my list! It is important for me to maintain my close relationships. It has not been hard for me to find ways to connect with those I love and care about.

Of course, nothing should adversely affect your personal relationship with the Lord if you choose to trust Him especially when you do not understand why things are happening the way they are. I have found more time to write and be creative and move into a fresh new season that has really simplified my life and message. For those of us who have had strong opinions about some things, including our theology and doctrine, we may have had to reevaluate some of those views or at least trust the Lord with the details that certainly have not worked out like we thought they should or would! None of the adverse circumstances have shaken my faith or ultimate trust in the Lord.

My question to each of my readers today is can you say something similar? Have you allowed life circumstances to shake your faith or solidify it? Have you been able to simplify your beliefs in such a way that when things in life go contrary to what you have been taught and believed, that you still have an anchor to the hope that lies within you? 

There are very few things in life that have eternal value. Take some time this week to ask yourself these important questions if you are not sure.