More from Lisa Stackpole

I’ve never been a big fan of change—as a matter of fact, some have referred to me as “rut-oriented!” I like to plan in advance and know what to expect both in the coming days and in the years ahead.

Of course, we know life is not like that. In today’s meditation, I recount a time when I reflected back on various stages of my life and recognized that I had to be more willing to move forward and not dwell in the past.

It’s been more than five years since the world first experienced something no one was prepared for—COVID-19. In what seemed to be a very short period of time, everyone’s plans were destroyed. Since I was retired, I didn’t have the gut-wrenching experience of losing a job or changing my home into an office, but nonetheless, there were challenges. I had spent quite a bit of my time on two volunteer activities—helping a teacher at a local elementary school and doing a weekly Bible study at a state prison. Of course, those activities were no longer possible. What would I do with my time?

God had an answer! Pre-pandemic I had also volunteered two mornings a month at the food pantry sponsored by my church. Thankfully, while modifications had to be made, we continued the ministry throughout the pandemic. A few months into COVID-19 precautions, the couple that had overseen the pantry had to step down from this task, and church leadership asked me to consider doing it. After prayer and discussion with other pantry volunteers, I agreed.

The learning curve for this new role was immense. Serving patrons was but the tip of the iceberg. There is a multitude of tasks that I needed to learn, which undergird the actual food distribution—inventory control, volunteer recruitment and training, recordkeeping, and more—so my new responsibilities, while enjoyable, were time consuming. Had this role been offered to me pre-pandemic, I wouldn’t have had the time necessary to take it on. Providentially, there was a wonderful team of more than thirty-five volunteers who were active doing the various tasks, and they were supportive of me in my new role. With the Lord’s guidance, we made it work. 

When regulations were loosened and my life could return to pre-pandemic activities, I decided not to go back to assisting at the grade school. I was able to resume leading Bible studies at the prison, for which I am eternally grateful—seeing God’s work in the lives of the men there is the high point of my week! But I am so thankful that although the pandemic was tragic, the Lord also used it to refocus my time on an activity that I now love and through which I believe I am a blessing to others. Despite my “rut-orientation,” I pray that the Lord will continue to do “new things” in my life as I am open to him.