April 2021: “normal” seems to have arrived

Looking back on a year unlike any other

One of the most interesting things about social media in April 2021 was the fact my reflections from the start of the pandemic are starting to appear in the memories section of my Facebook feed. Timehop has been a constant reminder of just how much has transpired in just one year. Last April we were just a couple weeks into the pandemic and the reality of what we were facing was just beginning to sink in.

Everyday life last spring was different than anything we had ever experienced. Our congregation had begun worshiping exclusively online. Missouri’s stay at home order was in full effect. Most people in the community were only leaving the house for groceries and other necessary journeys. Teddy bears had appeared in windows and the impact of the coronavirus was beginning to make itself felt as we said goodbye to members of our own church. 

Some progress, but not everywhere

Looking back now, it feels like all of that happened just a few days ago. The experience of the pandemic has been a blur. It is impossible to wrap my head around how much has happened. In the face of all that tragedy, experts have learned a great deal more about how the virus is spread and how best to treat it. Vaccines have become available and the majority of adult Americans now have access to the vaccine. Hospitality and mortality rates in the United States are lower now than they have been in a long time.

Sadly, that progress has not been felt everywhere. Even as North America and Europe begin to slowly reopen, other nations remain overwhelmed by the disease. India is currently facing 350,000 new infections every day. Test kits, hospital beds, and necessary personal protective equipment are simply unavailable to much of the population. We have to be careful not to point fingers. The memories on social media are reminders that the same thing was true here not that long ago.

At the same time, these memories have provided a gauge of how much has changed for the better. Dexter kids are about to complete a full school year back in the classroom. Congregations and businesses are figuring out how to safely reopen. Sports have resumed. Nursing homes are reconnecting families and residents. The county fair, prom, and graduation have all reappeared on the calendar. 

Hope starts to feel personal

The month of April was the moment when these changes really began to sink in for me personally. The month began with the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. The sanctuary was as full as it has been since the pandemic began. We had all of our normal Holy Week services, albeit at reduced capacity. There are no words to describe how gratifying it was to see people I have not met face to face in over a year. Easter is God’s assertion of victory over death. In the aftermath of a global pandemic, this year that claim took on extra significance.

Rebirth was also felt in our family as both Lily and I got fully vaccinated. Social interaction was increasingly shifting from online to in person activities. Several friends who have so far been reluctant to eat in restaurants are now willing to join us at our favorite Mexican place. We were even able to travel to Connecticut for a family wedding which had been delayed because of the virus. Celebrating the start of their new life together was even more exciting because we were able to see and touch the people we love for the first time in far too long.

More than anything, I am grateful for the fact that the month of April was the first time since the pandemic began where life almost felt “normal.” (Oh how we have all come to hate that word!!) Even as I say that, I know that the world will never completely return to its previous status quo. We still have a long way to go before the virus is eradicated, especially in those parts of the world that do not have ready access to the vaccine, but we are making progress and there is a tangible sense of relief in the air.

Someday I hope to look back on the social media memories of April 2021 and remember this spring as the moment when life began again. In the meantime, I say thanks for all the scientists and medical personnel who have gotten us this far and pray for all those who continue to be affected by this terrible disease.