How can you, as one person, respond to the massive trouble in the world?
One person at a time.
Keep your relationships strong for the other side. Isolation will end. Relationships don’t have to.
Just One?
This middle phase of our global pandemic can feel overwhelming. The numbers are staggering; the loneliness is great; the needs are many.
We often feel disconnected because we’re missing our normal hangouts of work, church, social activities, etc. We miss the people who were a regular part of our lives. Even if we Zoom, FaceTime, and Skype, it’s impossible to stay in touch with everyone. We’re concerned that relationships may be damaged after the virus goes into hiding.
What can you do to make a difference now when the problem is so large?
This is God’s specialty. He knows how to turn hopeless scenarios into extraordinary miracles.
And as God did in the past, He can also do today, using one person at a time.
Go Broad
Early on in the shelter-at-home phase, my husband Jeff decided to do a remote check-in with a different person each day. One day it was a text to a college buddy from years ago. Another day it was a phone call to his brother in the next town. Another day it was a message to a family that we no longer see at church.
Jeff’s strategy is to go broad.
We saw Jesus go broad, too.
In Jesus’s ministry in the New Testament, we often saw Him pop into a person’s life at their moment of great need.
- He raised a dead boy at a city gate.
- He healed a bleeding woman while He was going elsewhere.
- He did a remote healing for the son of a royal official.
Which one person needs you in this crisis?
Ask the Spirit to guide you. Then listen for His voice.
- Who do you miss that you normally talk to?
- Who have you not talked to in a long while?
- Who do you know that is lonely?
- Who makes you laugh?
- Who says you cheer them up?
- Who is afraid right now?
- Who calms you when you are afraid?
Connect with that one person.
Write a handwritten note and mail it. Take pictures of things you love and text it. Create video messages. Keep up with important dates in other people’s lives. Call and listen to each other’s voices.
Go Deep
But you also can approach one-person-at-a-time by going deep.
Is there one person who needs your attention again and again? Maybe a lonely widow. A friend with depression. A single mother with young kids.
Give attention to this person’s needs by checking in frequently.
Even if you can’t help face-to-face, your remote spiritual and emotional support can be a lifeline to get them through.
We know Jesus went deep with specific people.
He had a devoted collection of friends, both men and women. He had His crew of twelve apostles. And His intimate circle of Peter, James, and John. He stayed closer with them.
No one has the exact set of relationships that you do. God placed you where you are for a reason. Let Him use you in this time, one person at a time.
Isolation Will End
The more we connect with our community now, the stronger are relationships will be when we come out of quarantine.
Concentrate on what you want to outlast the coronavirus.
I don’t know who Jeff will contact today. Except for one. In addition to his one-person-a-day, he also checks in with me everyday. I need it, too.
Who can you check on today?
Do you have someone you’re consistently checking on? Who is checking in on you?
Thanks Lisa for this encouragement and tips on keeping those connections that matter to us strong! Happy to visit from Crystal’s.
Thanks for the visit, Jill. Praying you’re staying safe and connected!
Checking in with my mother on a daily basis, Lisa, although we’ve done that for years now. In these times, though, she feels more isolated than ever as I can’t go to visit her, so those call have become dramatically more important. Yes, we can help each other, one person at a time.
Blessings!
That’s great that you were already in the habit of checking in daily, Martha. Your mother is blessed to have you! I can imagine it is very, very hard for those who were already isolated to be even more isolated. :( Praying that the Lord sends extra comfort to your mother through your check-ins.
Wonderful encouragement, Lisa. I tend to follow the same strategy for keeping in touch as your husband. I usually “go broad”, sending little texts, notes, or making quick calls to lots of people. I can see the benefits of going “deep” with some people, though. One of my sons is going through an especially tough time and I think I need to be in closer contact with him every day. We will get through this together!
Since you and my husband are both Enneagram 7s (maybe?), that makes sense you’d have the same approach, Laurie. :) I’m sure your son will appreciate your closer attention during this time. This affects us all in different ways and to different degrees. I know you are a blessing to all those you are reaching.
Thank you, Lisa, for reminding me of this. It can be so overwhelming thinking of all the extra burdens for everyone in the world right now, so this is such good advice. It brought to mind Mother Teresa’s quote – “Never worry about numbers. Help one person at a time and always start with the person nearest you.” Thank you for your encouragement! Love and blessings to you!
What a perfect quote! Thanks for sharing the words of Mother Teresa with us, Trudy. Very apt. I’m sure you’re loving the person nearest to you. Blessings to you too, friend!
Excellent point and reminder. I have a few people I’ve been thinking about. I need to turn those thoughts into actions. Thanks for the advice, from you and Jeff.
Thanks, Floyd. I don’t know how long Jeff can keep it up, but so far he’s still doing it. :) I have several that I stay in touch with regularly but not necessarily a new one each day.
Lisa, this was a powerful thought>>> “The more we connect with our community now, the stronger are relationships will be when we come out of quarantine.” That’s it exactly. One person at a time. May you and Jeff stay safe.
Thanks, Joanne. There are several people I’m “seeing” and hearing from MORE now, which is nice. Praying you and your family stay well, too!
I really like Jeff’s idea of the remote check-in. I have made a list of the people I would see fairly often in pre-lockdown world, and people I haven’t seen for a while, and I’m sending a couple of short notes each day.
That’s great, David! I’m sure these people will dearly appreciate your thoughtfulness. We all need a little extra TLC these days.
I love this – One person at a time. I am going to make sure I’m connecting with someone new each day. Thank you, Maree
I know you’ll be a blessing to those you connect with, Maree! I had a friend reach out to me this week that I haven’t heard from in awhile. It always makes us feel better when we’re connecting with others. :)
I will be featuring your post tomorrow on my website for grace & truth. Maree
Thanks, Maree! That’s great.
Lisa,
Love this post and the reminder to go broad and go deep. I’ve been trying to do that, but thanks for the encouragement to up my game. Congrats’ on being featured on Maree Dee’s blog!
Blessings,
Bev xx
I love your heart to love others, Bev. I’m sure the Lord is using you in many ways to help others stay connected with people and with Him during this time!
Lisa, in the couple hours before I read this post, the Holy Spirit was nudging me in who I was to call today, who I was to text today and who I was to video message today….I always stand amazed how He makes His message clear. He definitely used this post to seal the plan for my day!
This gives me chills, April. I love, too, how the Lord gives us those affirmations when we’re following His lead. What a blessing you’ll be today!
We can stay connected. One person at a time. Thanks for this encouragement. Trying to keep in touch with a number of people. Especially my sister in law who lives alone.
Praying for your relationship to stay strong with your s-i-l during this time. That reminds me I need to check in today with one of my friends who lives alone. Everyone’s challenges are unique, but we are in this together. I’m glad God has knit us together! Thanks for sharing, Theresa.
This is a great reminder that there is a season for all things. Love your husband’s idea of going broad. That’s a wonderful way to reach out to people right now. I’ll have to do that myself. Great post, Lisa, and congratulations on being featured!
Thanks, Ashley. My husband told me this weekend that he broke his chain of someone new everyday. But he’s not a legalistic rule-keeper anyway so I’m sure he’ll get started back up again with no guilt hangovers. :) Good for you in doing it as well! There are always people who need our encouragement.