What if This is as Good as It Gets

Normal has been a status that I have craved as of late. Nothing has been ordinary about the world and our surroundings this year and it is taking a toll on all of us. It may manifest itself in different ways because of the variety of persons it affects. Normal is comfortable, serene, cozy. Less thinking is needed when we dwell in the sweet spot of our habitual lives.


The seed of growth planted deep within us will begin to sprout when the heat of the extraordinary beams into our souls. Sometimes that heat burns and makes us uncomfortable. It is only when our comfort zone is dismantled and invaded that we will learn new things, question what we thought was right, find common ground with those who are different than us, and realize that when it all shakes down, people are all that matter. The people that we love, work with, go to church with, socialize with, and the people that flow in and out of our lives are most important. Things and circumstances do no take precedence over those who live and breathe in the same space that we do.


What if this new world we live in is as good as it gets? What if this is our new normal? What if the logistics of our pre-pandemic lives never return? What if we have to tread water a little longer before we begin to feel comfortable again? Maybe the answers to these questions lie in this new season of autumn. The leaves turn beautiful colors according to their species. The wind blows and the petioles lose their ability to cling to the branch. They glide gracefully to the ground where they form a colorful carpet for children to jump and play and a reminder to adults that it is a beautiful thing to let go of things.


Expectations, opinions of others, painful memories, political biases, hatred, jealousy and hurt can be released from the branches of our souls and one by one, as they glide to the ground, our souls feel a little lighter. Extra clutter in the home, in our minds and in the world of normal are releasing to give room for a new world, new ideas, and growth that will , in time, become comfortable.


As we wait in the wings for our new normal to mitigate into the fabric of our lives, may we meditate on what parts of our previous lives deserve to sprout new growth and which ones should be left laying on the ground, never to invade our headspace again. If this is as good as it gets, we will pivot and regain our footing. What seems like sinking sand right now will become sediment to form new bedrock in our lives. May we lock arms and trudge forward into the unknown of this life keeping our feet firmly rooted in solid ground. May we know that time will smooth the abrasive nature of our concerns and promote the birth of our new normal.