Faith & Family - Cullman, Alabama Spring 2020 - Page 6

Note from the Editor
Waiting on
a new normal
By
Lora Scripps
Editor
A
lot has changed since our
last Faith & Family edition.
It’s our hope that everyone
reading this is safe, healthy, happy or
on their way to all three.
By the time you read this, it’s
possible we remain in a stay-at-
home order due to the COVID-19
pandemic. Some of the orders may
have been lifted, but the pandemic
has, no doubt, changed daily life. In
truth, our lives will remain changed
for some time — a new normal.
This novel coronavirus has
separated us in ways we never
imagined, but it’s also brought many
of us closer as families, friends and
church members.
I reflect back on Easter Sunday.
Many Christians celebrated Easter
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Faith & Family | April 2020
isolated in their homes, while pastors
preached to smartphones and empty
pews and small families used digital
formats to virtually hug their loved
ones. Songs were heard from city
balconies, drive-in services popped
up, and St. Peter’s Square — where
tens of thousands would normally
gather to hear Pope Francis — was
empty.
However, one thing seemed
stronger than ever — hope.
My young son overheard
someone say Easter was canceled
this year. I assured him it was not and
we celebrated as we normally would,
just without our extended family
physically surrounding us. Actually,
it ended up one of the best Easters
we’ve celebrated together. We hunted
eggs a little longer and hugged each
other a little tighter. The grandparents
watched the festivities through their
phone screens.
One hymn that keeps popping
into my head is “They that Wait Upon
the Lord,” which includes scripture
from Isaiah 40:31.