I had the opportunity to interview Macy Mc Combs, a freshman at the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) when the 2020 pandemic hit our country. It is through her personal lens that I bring some insights today.Â
So, Macy was thoroughly enjoying her new college life last February–new classes, new friendships, and a new future in accounting. She was busy from dawn to the time she crashed, happy, but exhausted. When the surprising lockdown came, despite everyone’s expectation that it would last only a few weeks, it was soon apparent, all classes were going virtual. But, Macy kept her nose at the grindstone, and  finished from home with straight A’s second semester.
So, what’s the big deal, you may ask, and what changed in Macy’s world? Life came to an abrupt halt in the McCombs household during the Covid-19 mandate to “stay home and stay safe.” A daughter of a pastor, Macy and the entire family was accustomed to being engaged in  church activities. Macy’s father knew he had to do something in order to provide ministry to his flock. Instead of engaging in the many opportunities at church, suddenly, “…church came home and there were no boundaries anymore.”
Macy writes about how the entire family was thrown into leadership responsibilities to make everything run smoothly virtually. Without question Macy and her siblings were eager to their father and mother. Yet, over time, one fact loomed over all the rest. There was no choice. There was no going home to rest. Home and church were one. Eventually, that took its toll. At the time of Macy’s writing a few months ago, she had led worship every single week for 17 weeks straight, and many more after that, I am sure.
The exciting part of Macy’s unique experience is what she learned. That is always the essential component of our life trials. How do we grow from being squeezed from pressures beyond our control? Macy shared a number of things she learned. Among the most important lessons, Macy had time to contemplate her former lifestyle, on-the-go constantly, participating in all the opportunities her young life held. That’s America! In her own words, Macy said, “I have learned that I can never take life for granted. I learned that it is necessary to slow down sometimes and spend extra time with God.” Macy has seen how fractured her days were rushing from one thing to another to make it all fit into her finite hours. She was overwhelmed, though wanting to take in every available opportunity! Learning to slow down in our culture is a big thing, and not easily  done.
Having chatted with many adults as well as young adults or teenagers during this Covid revolution, this is a common theme. Everyone is seeing how a little slower pace has some positive results. If one is a person of faith, it may even help roots go deeper and spiritual strength grow stronger. More Bible study time, more prayer time, more contemplation and reflection can be very nurturing to one’s being. Macy shared her time in a Kelly Minter Bible study called “No Other Gods.” In her words, “God totally rocked my world and my heart through that Bible study, and I wouldn’t have been able to go through it so intently if it hadn’t been for the pandemic.”
Macy, thank you for sharing your heart with me, and with all my Blog followers. You are a light to those around you, I am sure. I will close with Macy’s reflection on God’s intentions for all of us who will gather near Him. “I think God was using this time to make the world lie down in green pastures like it talks about in Psalm 23. He wanted us to slow down and come back to Him so He could restore us and give us rest.”
Macy has taken advantage of this time to rest in God’s love, to be refreshed. Have you?
