What joy I am finding in my weekends. The rhythm of work with the respite of some time off; being at home. It brings a bit normalcy to my soul during this abnormal time. But, what is "normal'? Webster defines it as "conforming to a standard or regular pattern."

What is normal for one person, maybe quite abnormal for another. We do things differently now that we are empty-nesters than we did when our daughters still lived at home. Normal can comforting, but is it really "the best"? Normal for me used to be going to work, running errands, and being out a night or 2 each week. Now, I tend to run fewer errands, walk my neighborhood in the evenings, and try to slow down. I'm reading more and listening to God's voice more. Sure, I truly miss meeting with friends for dinner and meeting in the sanctuary with my church family. Life at work has also changed. People are beginning to talk about a "new normal". 

As a believer, I know God does not want me to be "normal". I love Romans 12:1-2 in the Message:

"So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." (emphasis mine)

God is calling us to become more like Jesus. He is humble, has wisdom, and gives forgiveness and grace abundantly! That certainly is not "normal" in today's world.

I don't know about you, friends, but I want to come out of this season better, not bitter. I want Jesus to shine through me to show others there is a better, more loving Way. I want a "total reformation of how I think...This will empower me to discern God's will as I live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in His eyes." (my paraphrase of Romans 12:2, The Passion Translation)

This post was prompted by Kate Motaung's "Five Minute Friday," which she hosts on the Five Minute Friday website. Kate posts a single word each week and each blogger sets a timer for 5 minutes to write and then posts, with little editing. (Some weeks I have more trouble with that part than others.) Check out the other writers on this topic!