HOPE & GROWTH - Finding Positivity in Uncertain Times

While organizing my computer files, I found a blog post I wrote in the spring of 2020. At that point, none of us knew what the future held. The world was gripped by uncertainty, and we were all navigating uncharted waters.

While those days brought many challenges and unpleasantries, they also revealed glimpses of goodness and growth. In the long days between walks and meals, I stumbled upon a vlog titled “Covid-19 to Kansas,” shared by Cultivate Atlanta Counseling. It resonated deeply with me then, and revisiting it now, I find it still carries a message of hope.

As we continue to move forward, I hope this reflection encourages you to pause and recognize the growth in your own life. Despite the hardships, there were moments that reminded us of our resilience and the strength of the human spirit. Let’s hold on to those lessons and carry them with us as we continue our journey.

Covid-19 to Kansas

The words ‘pandemic’, ‘quarantine’, and ‘mitigate’ were not part of our vocabulary three months ago. We had never heard of Dr. Fauci and Dr. Birx, and have learned more than we ever needed about viruses. It’s beyond anyone’s wildest imagination that the spring of 2020 would be like this. Each day I wake to birds chirping, the sun rising, and the silence of the city. Silence? I live in the heart of Atlanta where the streets are filled with cars, honking horns, and sirens galore. It’s DAY, once again. I look at my phone to confirm WHICH day so that I can feel especially proud when I announce it to my family when they wake up? The meaning of ‘groundhog day’ has come to life.

Recently I heard someone compare COVID-19 to Kansas. That got my attention … and gave me hope this week. It’s definitely worth a listen, if you can spare 7 minutes today! I’ll do my best to retell it.

Going from east to west on I-70 to Colorado the trip through Kansas is the barometer of a boring drive. And, in the summer it is oppressively hot as the sun beams down on the vast plains. It is no scenic adventure, in fact, it can be described as ‘attractive remoteness’! Mile after mile only exit ramps to small towns that offer mom-and-pop gas stations. The criminally boring road seems to go on FOREVER.

However, what you don’t see is the amazing rise in elevation. Kansas City sits at 869’ above sea level, but when you get to Kanarado (appropriately named for a town bordering Kansas and Colorado!) it is 3,907’ above sea level. That long, flat, uneventful, drive offers a surprisingly 3,038’ rise in elevation that is invisible to the eye. When you arrive in Kanorado you see the majestic peaks of the Rocky Mountains!

What hope! Our days that seem to go on forever are more than a DAY. However, whether noticeable or not, we are growing... And just think, if I were more intentional about how I spend my days I might just master something I never thought possible. Being intentional is sometimes a challenge for me … it’s way too easy to succumb to afternoon naps!

So, what are you going to do today that will enhance your growth? I’m seeing one of my daughters mastering the Spanish language through her ‘study abroad experience’ in her room (yes, she’s supposed to be in Uruguay!), one training for a half-marathon while finishing her Masters in accounting at Wake Forest, and my boy training for cycling competitions after his abbreviated Zoom classes at Woodberry Forest! I enrolled in an online business class and art class. It’s so much fun, and I am seeing results from us all!

I have faith that, just like on I-70, there will be a spectacular scene ‘on the other side’!