Fresh Perspective

As the world groans with the effects of Coronavirus, we watch in almost surreal disbelief at what is happening.  For the last four weeks we have felt the tightening grip of restrictions, as Lebanon moved from schools closing and social distancing, to mandated stay at home rules.  Now it is with army enforcement that we can only go out for groceries or medical needs.  They are also sealing any unnecessary businesses open with red wax, with rumor never to be opened again.  Now an enforced curfew is in place from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.  We shake our heads wondering how a nation that was already in desperate financial state, will survive this economic blow? Week one through three wasn’t too different for us as we still homeschooled and on-line schooled, social distanced, and had the freedom to come and go on our local MEU campus.  However, week four equals Darron working from home, and us not leaving our apartment.  So far, we are coping by doing school.  Yay for homeschool…we just never stop. 

 I never dreamed of living in the Middle East.  I admired people who did it, but always thought, “That will never be me”.  Yet, here we are, almost ten months deep into living in Lebanon, “the gateway to the Middle East”. Recently, I have started searching for one new thing each day that I appreciate about living in Lebanon.  I find that this exercise in other areas of my life has been surprisingly fruitful.  That is another story.  This story unfolds with one small aspect of my gratitude to living in Lebanon.  It is the ability to see more clearly Biblical stories and illustrations that I have heard all my life.  Allow me to share just a few precious images in my mind. The other day we escaped the lockdown for a few hours and strolled along the promenade that runs along the sea.  Surprisingly many people were walking, running, sunbathing or fishing.  Some were talking on benches, but I think it is safe to say, that all of us were being refreshed to have a perspective change.  We sto