A Practical Response To Crisis Times
By
Virgil Fry
Everyone
experiences transition: some major, some minor,
some chosen, some imposed. Change may be our friend
at times, our nemesis at other moments. We all
experience crisis moments with family turmoil,
serious illness, job loss or changes, financial
distress, death of loved ones, moving, natural
disasters, etc. People of faith search scriptures
for assistance in not just coping, but also with
redeeming crisis events with betterment. Here
are a few suggestions for pro-active responses
to crisis events.
•Seek and accept the support of caring friends.
•Grieve as you need to, knowing that feelings
of loss are normal and require time to heal.
•While figuring out new ways to act and behave,
set healthy boundaries with others.
•Lower perfectionist expectations: allow grace
to minister to your soul.
•Choose sojourners and activities wisely, refuse
to allow others to impose guilt messages.
•Laugh and cry, rejoice and weep, as these
are God’s gifts to grievers.
•Keep moving, even if it’s short walks.
•Rest adequately, allowing your body to be
refreshed with sleep.
•Find times to be silent, meditating on one
good aspect of God’s presence in your life.
•Enjoy social ventures, finding a balance between
being a recluse and overbooked socialite.
•Plan, control what you can, then let others
have the joy of assisting you.
•Do fewer things in a day, do them well, and
learn to place the remainder in God’s care.
•Refresh your inner spirit with good reading,
good music, and very little television.
•Pray, and seek the prayerful support of others.
•When stuck in one emotional or spiritual mode,
consider competent professional counsel.
•Consider new ventures, new possibilities that
the crisis has opened up for you.
•Be gentle with yourself, and with those around
you who also may be hurting.
•Be honest in what you need from others, and
learn to be specific in your requests.
•Reach out and touch someone else in need:
we are never meant to serve only ourselves.
•Relax about the small details, believing that
life is more important than daily chores.
•Seek special moments alone with God, and with
good companions.
•Grieve that which is lost, enjoy what is present
today, and believe in God’s promise for tomorrow.
