Redeem the Time by Lynn Dove

It has been nearly ten weeks since Alberta, and the rest of Canada, went into imposed lock down due to the Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic.  My husband and I have been sequestered away in our home, following all the health and safety protocols, and taking even extra precautions due to my compromised immunity after my cancer treatments last year.  The first week of quarantine, I actually luxuriated in the isolation.  I enjoyed the no-guilt feeling of not needing to do anything.  Nothing was expected of me, there were no schedules to follow, no activities to attend, and my time was my own.  I did what I suspect a lot of people did during the first couple of weeks of isolation; I thoroughly cleaned every nook and cranny of my home!  I had to reacquaint myself with my vacuum cleaner, but was thankful the lady who had faithfully cleaned my house while I underwent chemo and radiation, had stockpiled enough cleaning supplies so I could clean my home again at my own pace.  I was grateful that I had my energy back to do the cleaning tasks once again.  I did a little bit each day, going room to room, cleaning out closets and drawers, and re-organizing everywhere.  When I got tired, I stopped, knowing I had the luxury of time to complete whatever I had started the day before.  There was no need to hurry because no one was expected to visit, so the house could be in a state of uproar, and I felt no panic to set it all aright for company.  In those first two weeks, I enjoyed the freedom of time.  There was no pressure, nothing on the calendar, and I enjoyed the slow-down.  I had planned to spend a little time each day to write, but I got so involved in the daily cleaning tasks, I procrastinated with writing.  There would be time for writing after the cleaning was done, I told myself.

The third and fourth weeks of self-isolating, I discovered there was not one thing in my entire house that needed dusting.  The kitchen was immaculate, and I lamented that no one could see it.  How proud my children would have been of me!  I have never been a Martha Stewart type, ask anyone!  I have literally had cobwebs on my vacuum-cleaner!  I don't enjoy dusting and vacuuming, and I have basically the same repertoire of tried and true meals I cycle through each month.  I don’t really have a great talent for cooking or baking, but during this season of Covid, I’ve tried some new recipes, and my husband has been greatly pleased. While I attempted new culinary fare, I continued to procrastinate with writing.  There would be time for writing after the cooking and baking was done, I told myself.

I fully intended to walk every day, weather permitting, during these weeks of quarantine.  I wasn’t going to let self-isolating get in the way of pursuing some fitness goals.  After all, I had all the time in the world now to walk and do some exercising from the comfort of my own home.  Here in Alberta, we have been in the deep freeze far longer than the rest of Canada, so initially it was easy to blame the weather to avoid exercising.  Then, I was caught up in the cleaning mode, followed by the cooking and baking mode.  The weather improved, but I still put off walking.  My best friend sent me a text on May 1^st that read: “I need to social distance myself from my refrigerator so I can flatten my curves!”  I laughed, but had to admit, my husband and I have accumulated some isolation ponch over these many weeks.  We’ve spent an inordinate amount of time watching T.V., binge-watching Star Trek mostly.  I dream of places now where no one has gone before, so I can go outside one day and not worry about physical distancing!  I still procrastinate with writing.  There will be time for writing after the binge-watching is done, I tell myself.

During the last few weeks of forced confinement, I have noticed that my house needs to be dusted and vacuumed again.  I find myself not motivated to take on the task.  My house is tidy and clean.  I can live with it.  There’s ample time to deep clean in this extended lockdown.  No hurry, I tell myself. 

What I wouldn’t give to go out to a restaurant again?  I complain.  Home-cooking is losing its appeal.   We order take-out for the third time in a week.  I scroll through the Netflix offerings again, and turn the T.V. off.  I’ve lost interest, or maybe I’ve seen it all now.  I pick up a book, but even that favoured pastime does not hold my interest long.  I try to write, but it is a tedious and frustrating exercise.  I blame writer’s block, but that would be false.  I am easily distracted, and I stare at a blank screen on my computer trying to find the words to express my thoughts and end up watching videos on YouTube, or playing mindless computer games, or immerse myself again in the daily news reports about the global pandemic.  The tedium of being confined to my house is wearing on me.  I miss my kids, I long for hugs from my grandchildren.  The weather may be improving, but I am still not taking advantage of it like I should so when my husband suggests going for a long drive, I am only too happy to go!  There will be time for writing after the drive, I tell myself.  

This morning (May 15th), I looked at my blank calendar, and suddenly I remembered I have a writing deadline!  I’m supposed to write a post for the InScribe Writer’s Online blog.  I cannot procrastinate.  I am running out of time to get it posted on time!  I don’t panic, I just start writing.  The words flow freely, and I am caught up in the joyous exercise of writing.  As I write, I think I have found the motivation I need during these remaining weeks of isolation.  I need deadlines, I need schedules, I need time-lines!  It is an epiphany for me, something I never thought I would be grateful for: the lack of time!

I must redeem the time!

Time is a gift from God, and none of us know how much of it we are allotted.  I realize I have wasted many long days doing things at home during this pandemic that have no lasting eternal value.  It is not a bad thing to want to cook and clean, or go for long walks or drives, but I confess none of those activities give me great, long-lasting joy.  Psalm 51 comes to mind: “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me…” (vs. 10-12)  I realize I have lost my ministry focus over these past weeks.  I have allowed time-wasting distractions to determine how I spend my days, rather than embrace this time to draw even closer to God.  I realize, and I hope not too late, that I must be more purposeful to seek His direction with my writing, so I might encourage others, and share the Gospel during this time of Covid-19.  I may have pressed a “pause” button on my writing, the last several weeks, but I’m ready to resume now.

All I need now is more time!

“This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”  Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”  (Ephesians 5:14-17)

Lynn Dove is the award-winning author, of the YA “Wounded Trilogy”- a contemporary Christian fiction series with coming-of-age themes.  A wife, mom, grandmother, and free-lance writer with articles published in several magazines and anthologies including Chicken Soup for the Soul books, her blog, “Journey Thoughts” is a Canadian Christian Writing Award winner.  Readers may connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and at lynndove.com   

Cracks: Good? Or Bad? by Ruth L. Snyder

The writing theme for May has to do with writing in the cracks of time. Although I am going to write about cracks, my post is not going to follow the theme in the truest sense of interpretation. Instead, I invite you to think about the idea of cracks and whether they are good or bad.

The first thing that comes to my mind when I hear the word, crack, is a meaning with a negative connotation. Something that is cracked is usually broken. A broken teacup is not able to be used for its intended purpose of drinking tea. Does that mean the teacup is worthless and needs to be thrown in the garbage? Not necessarily. Check out these twelve creative ways to use broken china.

When people speak of a person "cracking under pressure", that also has negative connotations. The phrase is used to describe someone who is not able to handle a certain type of stress, such as performing in public. We all have stress, but when that stress is more intense or lasts for a long time, some people have a mental breakdown. However, sometimes cracking under pressure is a good thing. Think about a lowly egg. If we could not crack the shell, we wouldn't be able to enjoy the egg and be nourished by it. The same is true of many nuts.

The crack of dawn could be seen as a positive thing if you are a morning person and you are looking forward to a new day with fresh opportunities. The crack of dawn would be seen as negative to someone on death row awaiting execution on that particular day.

We also talk about cracking the code. This is one of the few instances when the connotation is usually positive. To crack the code means you have solved a riddle, figured out a message, or found the answer to a puzzle. (Have you heard the fascinating story from World War II around secret code and how the Allies were able to crack that code?)

What about cracked jars? Good or bad? It depends! Cracked jars are not able to hold water or other liquids. Perhaps you have heard the parable of the cracked pot? The pot with the crack compared itself to another pot with no crack and felt worthless until the owner showed it how the crack created something beautiful.

In 2 Corinthians, godly people are compared to jars of clay.

"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us," 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 NIV.

God knows that we are cracked pots! He understands our sinful human weaknesses. We may be ashamed to let people see our cracks—hurting families, addictions, sinful choices, broken marriages. But God redeems those cracks in us. Those cracks are intended to bring us to our knees, admitting we cannot do life without God. When we repent and ask for help, He takes those cracks and allows His glorious light to shine through. He fills us with His light and then His light glows through our cracks to illumine the darkness around us. Others with the same cracks we have will feel like we understand. As we allow God's light to change us and shine through us, we often have opportunities to share the good news of the Gospel with those around us, dispelling the darkness of sin.

Are cracks good or bad? What do you say?

Cracks of Time and Walnuts by Marcia Lee Laycock

Cracks of Time and Walnuts
by Marcia Lee Laycock

Photo by Anshu A on Unsplash

Cracks of time
needed
to pry words
from air
from my heart
my soul

I need a tool
to break them free
like a nutcracker
breaks a walnut
reveals the chambers
the morsels, meat
inside

I use a slim
digger to excavate
the goodness

Cracks of time
allow for foraging
gathering the bits
into my palm
a satisfying mix
set aside
for later
when time allows
for more
walnuts tossed
into a satisfying salad
of words