March 31, 2020
 
   Running mild or running wild, anxiety levels are all over the board today. How are you doing? I sincerely hope life is going well for you. When moments of anxiety set in, it happens to us all, chase them away. Mind your mind by focusing your thoughts on the positive.  Make the choice not to let them lead you down dark and lonely roads.
   Are you barely hanging on long enough to make it through the day or next hour? If that’s you, or a friend, please talk to someone. There are people out there who truly care about you and what you’re going through. They are glad to listen.  The Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255 or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org 24/7 for calls, text, and online chats.
  

1. It’s going to all be okay. I do believe most things will return to normal. Maybe there will be changes in some areas, for the better. Some will find they like parts of today’s normal and will make intentional life changes for a slower pace. If your previous normal never completely returns, will that be all bad? A ‘new’ normal, once we survive the shock, can bring growth and strength leading to something good and unexpected not imagined before.
2. Faith fills you with peace and joy. This is a biggie for me. There have been a couple of times when I felt isolated and the blues set in. I tried to solve the problem myself, to no avail. That was the problem. I was trying to chase them away. As soon as I let go and let God, almost instantly, there was an unquenchable joy and peace that filled me. Not just for a few hours, but for days and weeks. When I lost focus again, I went back to God who lovingly restored my peace. My inspiration comes from Romans 8:5-6. “Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.

 
   This week we had an online gathering with the people in our small group from church. It was wonderful to see and talk to everyone. All were doing fine. Everyone, in their own words, expressed how they knew God had this, and that it would be okay. Later that evening, my husband was telling me about a radio program he was listening to. It featured stories of a few unrelated people experiencing high anxiety levels. It jumped out to him how none of these people mentioned having a faith in God. God can make all the difference.

staff. No, the four-legged variety. The Great Pyrenees farm dog. I watched in my side view mirror as he slumbered out the driveway towards the threat of danger. Sensing the protection of his presence, panic ceased among the sheep. One squirrel-headed ewe was already heading to a field of beautiful grass she had just spotted. And just like that everyone joined her and there was peace in the pasture again.
   Panic can be seen running rampant in our lives these days with all the empty shelving in grocery stores. Common everyday items sold completely out. Just like sheep, when a few began to panic, the whole population can go a little crazy. When we pause for a moment to take a deep breath and look around, we too can find our good shepherd watching our back. If we find ourselves a little lost and ready to flee in fear, we can listen for his voice and focus instead on the guidance he gives as nudges in the right direction. Like sheep know the voice of their shepherd, we too can learn to identify the voice of our shepherd by reading his word.

     Many of us are feeling isolated and thinking, “This is just the beginning and I’m already going stir crazy!” Those who normally work from home are seeing their isolation increase even more. We know our physical needs are taken care of, and we honestly think all will be okay soon, but the uncertainty of how it will all play out has us a little off kilter. How do we do an emotional reset and find the joy in this new, temporary, normal we find ourselves living in?

1. Sunrises and Sunsets  No matter the current flavor of craziness running through the world today, there are still sunrises, sunsets, and fluffy clouds of familiar objects floating through the sky. Regardless of the chaos we may be living in, seeing and remembering the God-created natural rhythms of the earth continuing as always can bring peace to the soul.
2. Splash in Puddles or Walk in the Rain  It’s been raining for weeks with no break in sight. No worries. Put on those mud boots and make a splash. Live life like a kid again.
3. Dance, Sing, Laugh, and if You Can, Whistle  Some of you may feel you must do the dancing and singing when no one else is around. That works. But consider you may bring a smile or good laugh to others if you just step out and go for it. Sometimes we need to not take life so seriously.
4. Pray, Asking God to fill You with the Joy and Peace that Only He Can Give  I can’t tell you how many times God has answered this prayer for me. He gives me the peace and joy I can’t always find on my own during difficult times. This situation is much too big for us to handle alone, but with God we can get through it. Pray daily for the health and healing of the world.  
5. Take a Walk, Stretch, and Exercise  Find an isolated sidewalk, empty parking lot, or a nature trail. Okay, so exercise may not sound joyful to do, but I can guarantee you’ll feel happier after you do it! Chemicals, called endorphins, are released which triggers positive feelings in the body that boost your mood and decrease depression.
6. Take a Drive  Who says you need to remain isolated in your house? If the sun is out, all the better. Maybe explore a road or area you have never driven.
7. Stop and Smell the Flowers or Buy Some for Your House  They’re pretty and cheerful.
8. Eat Right Plenty of fresh veggies and fruit. If not fresh, then frozen is the next best. Eliminate as much sugar and processed foods from your diet as possible. There are just too many reasons to list here, but for the purpose of this article, know they can contribute to your blue mood. Whole books are written on this.
9. Remember, Feelings are Not Facts  When you know your feelings don’t match the facts, call the bluff on your feelings and hush them up.
10. Turn Off the Noise and Bad News  It’s okay to take a break from the news and social media. It can get to be too much at times.
11. Pick Up the Clutter  It’s amazing how a little cleaning can lift your mood.
12. Volunteer, Donate, Share What You Have  Many times when we help others, it seems we benefit more than those we help.
13. Listen to Your Favorite Upbeat Music  Sing along and try out a new dance move or two!
14. Make a Gratitude List  Focus on the positives to counteract the negatives we may be focusing on. The more we focus on the good things, the more positive our overall well-being. This leads to better relations with yourself and others.
15. Play with a child or pet  Release those feel-good chemicals serotonin and dopamine in your brain. Your pet and child will totally enjoy it as well.
16. Enjoy Your Hobbies  Maybe you have to pull it out from under the bed or the back of the closet, but that will be a double win as you can scratch off #11 as well. Been wanting to start a new hobby? Now is a good time.
17. Keep a Good Sleep Schedule Seven to eight hours a night.
18. Keep a Journal  The best stories come after the challenge passes. Writing also releases your thoughts to paper and frees your mind.
19. Visualize a Peaceful Scene  Photographs or the memory of a peaceful scene can many times change our mood.
20. Call or Write a Letter  A good way to stay in contact with a friend or family member. What about a stranger in the hospital or nursing home?
21. Eat by Candlelight  This can be fun even if you’re alone.
22. Watch a Comedy or Comedian  Not seeing the humor in life right now? Look at life through someone else’s eyes.
23. Remember, “This too Shall Pass.”

Thoughts drifted to times when tears ran down my face like the juice of the apple. I had experienced another type of hunger, the longing for the peace and love that only comes from God.  Flipping through the pages of my Bible, I would search for His truths just like I walked through the fair searching for something desirable to eat. There it would be, words that filled me with joy, in an unexpected passage.
 
The more we taste His Word, the more we learned of his satisfying truths.  Feeding our intimate relationship with God through reading and prayer fills us with hope and joy that only he can give.
 
I took another bite. Aah, the sweetness mixed with the crunchy cinnamon candy.

     As a youth, a “snow day” in Arkansas meant bundling up and heading outside with a large piece of cardboard or trash can lid. Before the laughs and screams of excitement started, the silence was disrupted only by the squeaking sound of snow packing underfoot with each step up the hill. Flying headfirst downhill, you could smell the snow as cold air rushed past your face. You know the smell.
     Air really does smell differently when it snows. That’s because the cold and humidity have removed many of the outdoor odors. Isn’t that just like God to send something beautiful to cover up all the stink in life?
     Children can easily forget everything else and just enjoy the unexpected vacation. As children of God, we too can enjoy the peace God sends in the stillness of a snow day. Inhale the sweet smell. Cleanse our soul of the pungent odors from life. When the snow melts, the worries and steep mountains we may be climbing are uncovered. We can continue to find peace and stillness by reading His word and talking with Him.