If you’d like scripture reflection and prayer, a version of this content appeared in last week’s Bible study newsletter.
I recently saw a meme that read, “It’s not quarantine unless you’re in France. Otherwise, it’s sparkling isolation.” If you don’t enjoy champagne as much as I do, you may not understand the joke. These marvelous wines with nose-tickling bubbles are used to celebrate so many wonderful moments in our lives. They have various names depending on where and how they are made, e.g., brut, prosecco, cava, etc. Most of us call any wine with bubbles “champagne” and every now and then a wise person who wants to put a damper on the celebration will remind us that unless it’s made in the Champagne region of France, it’s sparkling wine – not champagne.
After my laughter it hit me that our current situation of sheltering in place is actually a lot like sparkling wine. Because the coronavirus has forced us into this position, we call it a quarantine. Yuck! What if we start to see it as a sparkling isolation?
What’s the difference between quarantine and sparkling isolation?
Like Champagne and Prosecco, quarantine and sparkling isolation look the same and function the same, but one is sweeter than the other. How many times have we wished to be able to work from home? Spend more times with our children? Sleep in on Saturday morning with a clear calendar for once? For a break from people and the world? If you are anything like me the answer is…many, many times.
Quarantine has given us an opportunity to do all of this so I’ve decided to make the best of it.
Seven Sweeteners of My Sparkling Isolation
#1 While quarantine restricted me from having a birthday party, sparkling isolation allowed me to connect with my friends and family for a really meaningful and reflective birthday experience.
#2 While quarantine keeps me locked in New Jersey, sparkling isolation allows me to join my cousins in Ohio for game night — something I never got to do before. We never thought about me joining via video conference before now. Well, Duh!
#3 While quarantine has eliminated a majority of cars from the road, sparkling isolation has allowed my teenager to gain more confidence in handling a 2 ton SUV without the stress of much traffic.
#4 While quarantine has eliminated my ability to go to the gym daily, sparkling isolation suspended my gym membership and has given me more disposable income. I’m a member of LifeTime so it’s a nice chunk of change, darlings.
#5 While quarantine completely messed up my fitness routine, sparkling isolation allows me to take the same Barre class at home without racing down I-287 to get there on time.
#6 While quarantine has kept me out of grocery stores, sparkling isolation has given my husband the opportunity to better understand the grocery shopping experience and why I “need” to pay a premium for grocery delivery.
#7 While quarantine has forced a pause in my busy schedule, sparkling isolation made me realize that all the things I said I would do if I had more time….I was lying.
So, that’s my deal. How has your quarantine been sweetened into a sparkling isolation?
“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” 2 Corinthians 4:17