I have inadvertently fallen into some bad habits lately. Not just one thing to blame, but a combination and culmination of various factors, resulting in a pretty funky mood for quite some time.

Of course being alone about 95% of the time doesn’t help, but I also think the pandemic and associated isolation have caused me to retreat into my shell a bit. It’s like I figure, “Why bother being social when I can’t do it the way I want to?” And somehow that attitude extends to more than just my in-person activities. I’ve also been less likely to call and talk to the people I normally would have seen regularly. Probably another dose of that “why bother?” attitude.

But something changed today. I ran into about a half dozen technology issues on some ministry activities which caused me to connect with one of my favorite people. And more importantly, one of Daisy’s favorites. Someone that I would see regularly on my dog walks which haven’t happened for about 3 weeks now. If the temp is over 70 degrees when I get up, no walk for Daisy.

I had reached out to her regarding one of my technology glitches and we had the most delightful conversation. We laughed, we commiserated, we caught up, and we realized how very much we missed talking to each other!

It was a great spirit lifter and attitude adjuster.

A few short hours later, another friend whom I hadn’t talked to in months, texted me to see if I could chat. Of course! Anything to keep from dealing with my technology problems! We also laughed, commiserated, caught up, and realized how much we missed each other.

The spirit lifted a bit more and the attitude started tilting away from “why bother” and towards “what a day brightener!”

That’s when I began to understand that, despite the isolation of this pandemic, we do still have the ability to reach out and bring some joy into our days, and into the lives of our friends.

A few months ago, I posed the question in my weekly blog, “What if we’re ALL grieving?” I can’t imagine a single person who hasn’t lost SOMETHING during the pandemic, and consequently has something to grieve.

Yes, the sadness of all we’ve lost in these past few months can permeate every area of our lives. I know the experts talk about how depression and other mental challenges are a growing concern the longer we are forced to live different lives.

So, this is my humble suggestion for you, my readers, based on my unexpected “jump start” today.  Are there connections with friends or family members that have all but disappeared during COVID-19? I’m not talking about the people you continue to see regularly, even if it’s via Zoom or FaceTime. I’m suggesting you think through which friends you haven’t connected with for months, and whom you dearly miss.

Don’t wait for a technology glitch in your life before you pick up that phone and call or text them. Chances are pretty high they’ve missed you, too. I think you’ll be amazed by what a 15-minute (or maybe hour-long) conversation can do for your outlook on life.

It doesn’t need to be complicated. Find ways to bring the people you love back into the rhythm of your life. Not complicated, but perhaps not easy to do. Sometimes it’s easier to stay in our shell or down in our pit. And I know when someone is deeply grieving, they don’t have the strength to start climbing out.

So, I’m not reneging on my usual admonition not to expect hurting people to do all the reaching out. But, if you think you fall more squarely in the “I’m a little blue” category, then this advice is made for YOU! And perhaps the person you decide you’ve really missed is grieving some deep losses of their own and would be truly blessed to hear from you.

My challenge to each of you, then, is to identify FIVE people you want to reconnect with in this next week. Send them an email or text, or give them a call. Let them know how much you’ve missed them. I can already see days being brightened all around me. And I can hear those engines start to purr once again, thanks to the “jump starts” we will all benefit from. Ladies and Gentlemen, start your engines!

A friend loves at all time.

Proverbs 17:17