“Allow Him to make more of you than you can make of yourself on your own. Treasure His involvement. Sometimes we consider changes in our plans as missteps on our journey. Think of them more as first steps to being 'on the Lord’s errand' (D&C 64:29)."
#RonaldARasband

It’s been a tough year. Relentless calamity, social instability, pandemic lockdowns, political chaos. Life events of the simplest nature & need have been cancelled. People we love or admire have buckled under the pressure, let us down, faded away. The isolation can be crippling.

The road, however straight, feels to be narrowing with every step. The demoralizing noise from the great & spacious building is mind-numbing. Dangerous detours are tempting. The haze of despair is thick & blinding. It’s so much. It is just so much.

Now is the time to look up from your dragging feet & survey the landscape. Reorient yourself with the path & the goal—the bright Tree of Life you’re approaching, & the gate wherein the Savior waits to welcome you. Assess your spiritual resources. Look for people to help & love.

It may seem like you’re being squeezed down a tight path not of your choosing, like your agency has dissolved, every option in life blocked or cancelled. But it only seems that way. Stay on the path. At the end of it, there are wonders that make your old goals seem laughable.

I live in Michigan. Our ward still limits in-person sacrament meetings to under 50, socially distances, wears masks, has no singing or musical numbers, wipes down the pulpit between speakers, and Zooms in the remainder of the ward. I applaud the leaders for doing what they can...

It should be noted that not every ward in my area is as restrictive. Our bishop has a health condition that puts him at higher risk of illness. Also secular views that support greater caution, and (lest we forget) the keys & spiritual intuition for our specific ward’s needs.

I don’t doubt there are ppl sitting in my ward building today feeling despair about what they’re witnessing, maybe singing quietly behind their masks, looking for who to blame, trying to focus on the Lord’s hand in it instead of their own misgivings. It’s very hard to endure.

I’m also sure the bishopric is tired of wearing masks, tired of wiping down the pulpit, tired of listening to recorded hymns while they sit silent, & that they too fight not to blame. Some are inclined to blame those who create mandates, & some blame those who don’t comply.

We’ve had our year to feel reactionary. We’ve learned a lot abt ourselves & others by watching reactions under pressure. Some surprised us with their resilience, others with how quickly they came undone. It’s a new year now. Time to stop reacting & start responding with intent.