Social Distancing
Some call it physical distancing.
Quarantine.
Lockdown.
These are all terms that will now have a whole new meaning in our minds moving forward. From the very young to the very old, a vivid picture of social distancing will likely always be there.
Granted, that picture will obviously look different for different people. For us, so far, I feel like we've worked very hard to fight against the tendency to simply hunker down, ride it out and survive.
While survival is not at all a bad thing, we just don't want to lose sight of the fact that God is not surprised by any of this - He still worked in the hearts of our friends and family just a few short months ago prompting them to get TeamDockrey to Germany, for His Kingdom and for His Glory. There's still a purpose in that. He knew that we would be here even in the midst of a chaotic pandemic.
While it can sometimes feel like the "ministry" we envisioned that He had for us here is not necessarily playing out like we thought, it is exactly what He KNEW that it would be.
We want to praise God for that. We want to be purposeful and intentional about every step and every decision, even as we are locked inside 90 square meters of this tiny German apartment.
So, here's what we've been up to:
Lance's Chaplain team at the school has worked very hard to keep our students (who are currently scattered all over the world - some still here in Kandern while some are back with their parents in various countries) engaged and unified. They have to do this all digitally, of course, but have spent lots of time seeking the Lord and planning and executing daily content for students.
Lance and Carol both have been able to continue meeting with their high school small group students via zoom calls. It is certainly encouraging to see one anothers faces and check in and share and lift one another up in prayer.
And...
we went on a Spring Break 2020 trip. Our 90 square meters in the middle of Kandern, Germany does not include a yard or balcony or anything of the sort. So, a precious friend of ours who lives in a small neighboring village offered up their back yard to us for a couple of hours. They stayed indoors as we jumped on the trampoline, played volleyball, laid in their hammocks, roasted brats and marshmallows, and just enjoyed being outdoors relaxing. I told Lance that it was the first time my bare feet had felt grass since August!! Isn't that crazy?!
And here are few things that God has been teaching us:
Thankfully, we really do love each other. It's tough to be cooped up - as everyone all over the world is experiencing. Add the stress of the unknown in there and a little bit of fear of catching the 'rona - and tensions could run high. And while the boys do bicker back and forth now and then, I do genuinely see extra doses of grace shining through. We actually like one another and LOVE each other. I know that comes from the Lord and I am so so thankful for it. I'm even a little bit thankful that we don't have a huge house where each of us could easily retreat into our own areas and waste the day away. I'm not saying there isn't any day wasting going on over here, but our close quarters has been a bit of a blessing and I'm glad that we love each other. ;)
We have always lived with a faith that simply trusted in the sovereignty of God. Again, we absolutely know that is a gift from the Lord: the ability to trust Him. But, we see it playing out in the midst of this current reality. Like, we genuinely feel peace and even joy because we know the truth of who God is. The hope we have in Him is real and we just find ourselves praising Him for that, because we know it isn't something we could simply muster up ourselves. He is 100% in control all the time, and He's showing us how truly wonderful that is. One aspect of that sovereignty that He keeps proving to us is just how well He truly equips us and prepares us for the things He calls us to.
This one is a bit more personal for me (Carol). As the phrase SOCIAL DISTANCING has become commonplace, my eyes have been opened to my own tendency over the past few years to "socially distance" myself from the world around me. Don't get me wrong, I love people and I love how God has enabled us to be able to invest in the lives of people. I am absolutely an extrovert and I have some very sweet and precious friendships that I cherish. But, weeks before this global pandemic began, God was softening my heart to a fairly harsh reality that was truly affecting every area of my life. I was deeply wounded by a best friend about 4 years ago and was apparently holding on tight to unforgiveness and bitterness. I was, unknowingly, keeping people at a distance in order to protect my heart. I was constantly believing the lies that Satan would whisper in my ear - that I was wronged and that the people who hurt me were sinful, that pride and arrogance in this situation were okay, and that I was incapable of deep intimate friendships. God used this newly coined term (social distancing) to have the truth of His Word blow up in my heart. HE opened my eyes to His Power to enable me to walk in forgiveness AND in freedom. So, while the rest of the world is learning to practice Social Distancing, I am finally beginning to walk in freedom from it. Praise God!
Peace from the Black Forest ;)