It’s true. It’s been 200 days since we got home from my nephew’s wedding and everything shut down. I thought I would take a moment, reflect and just share some random thoughts, musings, observations and words on this unique moment in time.
I have worn pants only 3 times in 200 days. 2 weddings and one funeral.
You can tell who the real leaders are. In our work, our community, in our city, state and national governments.
https://soundcloud.com/djmidlife
That whole “stay home and watch Netflix” part of the “stay at home orders” didn’t really pay off for me. I work from home. We didn’t lose electricity, phone lines worked, so my job continued without a blip. (Thank you God for my job.)
I can’t remember another time in my life where I prayed for people more. Specific people, with specific issues.
Grocery store employees were the most “invisible” people in our lives till Covid 19 made them essential!
The “Covid 19 pounds” are real. I didn’t hit 19, but got too close. Working on getting back to normal.
When people panic, it’s because the things we count on, the institutional things, the EVERYDAY stuff all of a sudden disappears. Going to a restaurant, your kids in school, attending a movie or concert, time with family and friends. These things matter. And of course, toilet paper.
Zoom was fun. Now it’s not. Can’t explain it.
Concerts are important to me. This statement was true before Covid 19. But I had no idea how much.
I have seen the staff at my church handle the last 6 months with grace, love and understanding. Ministry has changed. If you don’t pray for your pastor and staff, start. They are trying to navigate so much, with no precedent to guide them. Their love for Jesus, care for the congregation and the call to pastor us through this is amazing to watch and experience. They are remarkable people and a blessing to all of us in the congregation.
We have a pool. We have a hot tub. Can’t imagine what the last 6 months would have been like without them. Seriously.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3NhkNR1eIERp1OZ0ju5tEZ?si=Labe956ZSICitl7XEFw_Pg
The happiness Kelly had cooking dinner every night for her family was something I will never forget.
Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” 1 John 4:20 We are created equal. All of us. Declaration of Independence says so. The Bible says so. But it’s apparent not all the people in “my circle” truly believe that. That has been disappointing. I have made changes to “my circle”. Quietly. #HideFeature
I never watched a single solitary minute of Tiger King. And I feel good about that decision.
We have a 17 year old and a 21 year old. Having them “stay at home” was an incredible gift. A blessing that had us gathering around the dinner table EVERY night, long talks, going on walks and piled on the couch for a movie (or 2). It was like we got one more time to be the “4 of us”.
I work for an amazing company. I won’t go into detail about how they handled and are still handling the pandemic. But UMG Nashville and Universal Music have my loyalty, my respect and my thanks for the rest of my life. I hope to retire as a UMG Nashville employee one day.
I turned 50. The house party we had planned didn’t happen. But, weird enough to say, I think it turned out better. Had a great day with “us 4”. Got a short getaway with Kelly. Spent a great night with my SIL and BIL. Went to an animal preserve and had half our car covered in buffalo slobber. My son bought ME a beer in Luckenbach Texas.
BLM. I marched on June 13th. Because a small group of HS graduates in our small town reached out to the police department and wanted to stand up. https://johntrapane.com/2020/06/03/a-day-of-reflection-my-blackout-tuesday/
I have friends, true friends that I have leaned on, shared with and depended on through this time. I know the ones that will be there for the rest of my life. You know who you are.
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. John 15:2-6
God has my attention. I think the stripping away of so much makes you see what’s truly important. Relationships. Family. Friends. This virus has made us look at the world differently. Made us look at what we “put into the world”. I choose love.
Love Is Bigger Than Anything in Its Way by U2
The door is open to go through
If I could I would come, too
But the path is made by you
As you’re walking start singing and stop talking Oh, if I could hear myself when I say
(Oh love) love is bigger than anything in its way So young to be the words of your own song
I know the rage in you is strong
Write a world where we can belong
To each other and sing it like no other Oh, if I could hear myself when I say
(Oh love) love is bigger than anything in its way If the moonlight caught you crying on Killiney Bay
Oh, sing your song
Let your song be sung
If you listen you can hear the silence say
“When you think you’re done
You’ve just begun” Love is bigger than anything in its way
Love is bigger than anything in its way
Love is bigger than anything in its way
Intermittent Musings Of A Middle Aged Mind 
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