What’s Distance?

This last year has been something crazy, to say the least. I am sure I won’t be the only one to admit that, but hey at least we all have embraced it together. Now as a new season is underway, long distance is a new part of my fiancé and I’s life that is just an added stressor. But here was a thought that has come into my mind recently, especially when it comes to this year being all about “social distancing”.

So let me start with a long-distance relationship, and even more specifically a long-distance engagement. Let me speak plainly, it’s hard. Being away from your best friend and someone you care about deeply is not the way you want to be celebrating your new engagement. But if there is one thing that we have learned that communication is the key to it all. Being able to speak openly, honestly and about everything going on is what helps us grow, despite being far apart. Another thing that I know has helped us, is showing each other that during our time we do have, we set the priority that we are going to do those little things that make the distance feel less far away. Face-timing, calling, all those things that make us feel connected. And that is what it’s about, connection. Feeling that connection so the distance does not feel so daunting.

But what about our life with others, or what about our faith? Have we as individuals struggled this year feeling the distance of “social distancing” not being able to be around our loved ones? I know some of the struggles of this year I have had is not feeling as close to those I have had in my life. And how do we fix that, how do we in a world of distancing, feel closer to those we love and are in our circle of life?

Connecting with those is how we get closer, and I know that seems like an obvious answer but more importantly, it’s how intentional we are. Just like my fiancé and I, it’s about setting the priority in your life to keep your friends, family, and loved one’s close. Doing the simple things to show them that they matter. A simple text message, phone call, FaceTime, zoom call, letter, care package, something that makes them feel that connection to you. We need that connection with people, and when we have that connection with people it helps us find the happiness we strive for.

Now in our own life with our loved ones and close circle, how does this distance affect us not just with people, but more importantly with our faith? I don’t know about you reading this, but maybe this year not going to church has really messed with your faith journey. Maybe doing church online really hasn’t been all you thought it would be, attending service in your pajamas in your living rooms. Or maybe, just your time with God has not been the way you have wanted it to be going and it’s really left you discouraged. For me, I have been there at times and personally, this blog has been something that I really feel has led me closer in my faith because it’s almost my heart reflecting on things I know I can be better at. But a reminder to you, and a truth to hold onto for all of us is we cannot be apart from God. If we have accepted him into our life, He is not far away from your heart even if you don’t feel that way.

Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of Christ.”

Distance is something that makes us feel apart from the things and people we love. But when we are intentional, when we have communication and openness to those and Christ, we feel their presence in our life. So my challenge to us, my challenge to myself is to be more intentional. Be more open in my communication to feel that distance go away. We are all seeking for that distance to go away, and when we all help each other find that happiness, we will all feel a little closer to each other, and to Christ.