Life has certainly changed in the past few weeks, wouldn’t you agree? I live in a tourist town in the beautiful mountains of east Tennessee. At this time of year, the town of Pigeon Forge, along with neighboring Gatlinburg and Sevierville, is filled with tourists who have come for a visit. There are many things in this area which draw huge crowds, especially between March and December.

We have shows to entertain, amusement parks to thrill, outlet malls to lure us in, attractions galore to spend our time, and, of course the biggest draw of all, the Smoky Mountains to dazzle our eyes, minds, and spirits. At this time of year the roads are usually at a stand-still due to stop-and-go traffic.

But not this year. This year the shows are closed, the amusement parks lie eerily quiet and empty, the outlet malls are void of human traffic, the attractions are shut down, and even the scenic mountain roads are without sight-seers. Yes, life has changed radically, and we are now hearing the talking heads on TV harping on and on about the “new norm”.

Exactly what does that mean? What is the “new norm”? Right now, it consists of social distancing, “stay-at-home” restrictions, essential personnel only enforcement in the work place, daily instructions on how to remain safe and virus-free as we go about our daily routines. It means unemployment for millions as non-essential jobs are cut and workers are laid off. It means doctor’s visits are restricted to emergency status only, and only emergency surgeries are being performed. And these examples are only a small part of the “new norm”.

My wife and I have been voluntarily isolated for the past two weeks. We only go out in public when it is absolutely necessary. The only places we have been where we were in close proximity to others are the grocery store and the pharmacy. When we have gone to these places, we have tried to maintain a safe distance from others. When we see our neighbors out and about, we speak, but from a distance. We will even carry on a lengthy conversation with them, but still, at a safe distance.

So, how do we cope with this new norm? What can we do to maintain our sanity in a world that is vastly different than anything we have ever experienced? I would like to use the remainder of this blog to offer a few suggestions.

First, I would suggest that we use this time to grow deeper in our fellowship with God. Too often, in our hectic paced lives, we allow certain things to be forced out of our daily routine. Far too often, the first thing to go is our quiet time with God. There are many reasons we might allow this to happen. Other things are viewed as more important. As a matter of fact, we have other commitments that are thought to be of much more importance than my personal, private time of devotion and fellowship with God. And, after all, no one is looking over my shoulder, keeping tabs on my quiet times of prayer, Bible study, and devotion. But please understand: nothing is more important than our daily time of personal worship. Use this down time to reinvest in your personal spiritual development by spending quality time every day in His presence.

Second, I would suggest we use this time of isolation to get reacquainted with our family. Let’s face it, in our fast-paced society we spend very little time – real, quality time – with our family. We’re too busy with all the demands of life, and when we finally come home, we’re too tired to enjoy time with the family. Too often we allow life to distract us from what is really important. So, this time of self-imposed isolation could actually provide a fresh, new start for many. Play games together, put puzzles together, take walks together, read books together, cook out together. If there are children in the home, let them participate in coming up with daily plans of action.

Third, get out of the house, together. Go for a walk as a family. Go to a secluded picnic area where you can fly a kite, throw a football, take a hike, or simply enjoy being outside, together. Start a new family tradition. Go to a near-by lake or pond, and wet a hook together. Start a hobby that everyone can enjoy. Play together and plan together. Use this time to get better acquainted with one another.

Fourth, I would suggest that parents get to know their children better. Have a family discussion several times a week. Let this time be guided by a specific topic. As a family, sit down and compile a list of topics to be discussed. Don’t let one family member dictate all topics: rather, take turns coming up with suggested topics. Write the topics down as they are suggested, and then discuss them in that order. This ensures that everyone’s topic(s) are seen as equally important and valid.

Fifth, have a movie night. Again, let each family member have a voice in the movie selection. You might want to once again compile a list, allowing each family member to suggest movies to be watched. Then, once again, view them in the order they were suggested. After watching the movie, have a family discussion about the movie. What was your favorite part? Are there any life lessons to be learned? How might we apply those lessons to our lives? What can we do in the next week to implement those lessons?

These are just a few very simple suggestions to help us cope with this “new norm”. You probably have many more ideas that could be added to what I have shared. That’s great! My suggestions are just the beginning of what could be an exciting new journey for each of us. Let’s not allow our present cultural crisis to cause us to become bitter, but rather, better. Enjoy life. Get reacquainted with loved ones. Begin new traditions. Make tons of new memories.

And finally, remember: life is precious. Don’t take it for granted. Don’t put off the things that we can do right now to be the best we can be in the worst of times. God bless you and yours as we walk this new norm together.