The biscuit tin has been opened. The coffee has been supped. The approaching use-by date on the shortbread made it clear my sojourn here would be lasting a little longer…
When I landed on the 30th of March with only the main things packed in my suitcase; I never imagined that almost half a year later I’d still be here. Yet here I am, and most likely till early 2021.
Breaking the seal on the shortbread I was saving to savour with friends in Jakarta, was the first sign that I was resigned to not getting back for a while. As was using up the two bags of Darkwoods’ speciality coffee I had been introduced to by Mocha Life.
I had bought three. One for here. Two for there. – One for me, one for a friend.
Even though the coffee facilitated some lovely #mochamoments with my brother -particularly on Sunday mornings- finishing the last of the beans was bittersweet.
I didn’t expect all things covid related would be over in a flash. I knew there’d be lasting consequences into next year and potentially beyond. However, I didn’t think we would still be as ‘in the thick of it’ as we are.
In full awareness that I am extremely blessed, I’ve still had to challenge myself to navigate from Resignation to Reframing. This is not to say that I haven’t allowed myself to feel and express disappointment, uncertainty, frustration etc. As these, and many others, are natural responses and emotions for times and circumstances such as these.
I have, however, had to choose -sometimes daily- to see the circumstances in a different way. Holding the tension between acknowledging things not being exactly as desired, with choosing joy and thankfulness. Amplifying the good without suppressing the not good. A verse from the Bible says:
“Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.â€
Philippians 4:8
Recently when a cousin of mine was looking for a new frame for a piece of art, she pointed out that having the correct frame makes all the difference. Explaining that the right frame enables you to see the piece in its best or a different light. Possibly also revealing that it is actually not just a one-dimensional piece and so on.
You see the piece itself remains exactly the same, but reframing it can significantly change how you experience and appreciate it.
I think the same can be said for some of the circumstances we find ourselves in. What’s happening may continue to be challenging, but sometimes reframing it can allow you to journey with it a bit better.