Around the world at this time people are required to stay socially distant from one another in order to help slow the spread of COVID-19. God created us to live in community, so social isolation takes a toll on our psychological health. However, it’s critical we take social distancing seriously to prevent health care systems from getting overloaded which can ultimately lead to more deaths. As a result, people are spending more time at home and some have more time on their hands then they know what to do with in a creative and positive way.

The great pause

During this time of quarantine, it’s as if someone hit the pause button for most of society. The days are blending together and boredom is hitting some people harder than others. Since we have not collectively experienced anything like this pandemic in our lifetime, it’s easy to feel anxious from the unknowns and worries over loss of life, jobs and normalcy. It’s also not unusual to experience boredom.

I’m bored

Still, boredom isn’t necessarily a bad feeling. Many psychologists claim boredom is necessary for our brains to generate creative solutions to problems or serve as an artistic outlet for our anxiety. On the other hand, boredom can cause trouble when we feel tempted to sin or become apathetic. Boredom can lead to incredible ingenuity or creative expressions of our humanity that bring glory to God. In fact, Isaac Newton came up with his greatest discoveries after being sent home from Cambridge University in order to stay safe during the bubonic plague. The year he spent at home was known as his “year of wonders.” During this time he discovered important theories about gravity, optics and calculus. 

What if this could be a year of wonders for us? This doesn’t mean we have to make a huge discovery or come up with some novel theory. Perhaps during this time we can make room for self-care and self-reflection that will be crucial for our faith development. Perhaps we can learn how to love others better during this time, or even begin a new hobby. Whatever we do during this unique time, it can be an opportunity to explore the good things God has planned for us. 

Question of the day: What’s the funniest thing online you have seen someone doing out of boredom?
Focal scriptures: Ecclesiastes 8:15; Colossians 3:1-17; 1 Timothy 4:7-10

For a complete lesson on this topic visit LinC.