The current pandemic has brought much disruption and hardship. Lamenting the people and routines we have lost are a healthy part of coping with this pain and suffering. This blog post will be sharing some stories of people who have inspired me during the pandemic. Perhaps their stories will also encourage and inspire you.
Connectors
When meeting with people outside of our households became impossible, three seniors I know decided to reach out in original and inspiring ways.
HANK
This man has the gift of singing and story telling. He is a retired teacher and principal who lives alone, but he has grown a ministry during the pandemic that has continues to grow. Each week, he telephones a roster of 60 people who live alone or are isolated in some other way. He calls to make a personal connection and to sing a song for them over the telephone. Most of the time, these songs are hymns. He researches the story that led to the writing of the song and shares this background with the person he is calling. Then, acapella, he sings the song. One song he has sung for people is "One Day at a Time." I am not on his phone list, but I heard him sing it at an anniversary party in 2019. The words and the conviction with which he shared them still stand out in my mind.
DENNIS
Another retired gentleman decided last spring to open up his paper address book and pick up the phone to call someone he might not have spoken with for some time. He called someone different every day. People who received his call expressed gratitude, and they shared together what has been going on in their lives lately. In a world of text and email, the sound of a human voice is still a treat. The boldness and determination to call these contacts is inspiring.
NEL
This retired woman comes from a large family. Eight of her siblings are still alive, and one passed away a few years ago. She and her late husband used to own a successful business, and they had no children. At Christmas time, she wanted to bless each of her sisters and brothers with a generous financial gift. The most inspiring part of this story is that she included her widowed sister-in-law in the disbursement. She had no obligation to do so, and she had to insist to her accountant that this was what she wanted to do, regardless of what the accountant advised. The ripple effects of her gift extended far beyond what Nel imagined, since one of her sisters also shared the windfall with her children and grandchildren.
Physical Fitness
For many people, the disruptions of pandemic life meant less activity and exercise. Two individuals did not let the pandemic stop them from continuing to strive for lofty goals of fitness.
MARJORIE
I am not sure how long this woman who lives on my street has had her current walking regimen. She walks ten kilometers every day, no matter the weather. Now, she did not announce this to me. Rather, as I picked up the habit of walking every day when I started working from home in March 2020, I would sometimes encounter her on various streets. She moved with purpose and was dressed for exercise. I would greet her and carry on with my own walk or errand on foot. Finally, I stopped her and asked how far she walks. I was floored when she said she walks ten kilometers every day. Her job has recently become permanently a "work from home" position. She loves that, and it does not stop her from being active every day.
CHRIS
When I heard about the achievement Chris had made on the radio in November 2020, I was so excited. Chris is a 21 year old young man who lives in Florida. He completed an ironman race that included cycling, swimming and running. He is the first person with Down Syndrome to accomplish this feat. In the interview with his father, it was stated that Chris trained for more than a year to prepare for this event. To spare Chris unneccesary pain or hardship, his father and trainer set out a goal of 1% improvement each day. The length of time in the water, on a bike or on the track was increased gradually. This principle of gradual, 1% improvement in even one area of life is inspiring for me. It is something achievable and can become a part of a sustainable lifestyle!
I'd love to hear about people in your life who have inspired you during the pandemic. There is plenty of gloomy news out there, but as the Apostle Paul encourages, "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things" [Philippians 4:8, NIV].
