There is so much good in this world, even when it feels like there is so much wrong with this world. It is taking me more time and effort to count my blessings these days – I have begun to let the negativity that is all around me sink in, and when that happens, it is like quick sand to get back out and be grateful.

All I have to do is log on to Facebook for 2 minutes, and my acquaintances and “friends” bombard the news feed with their anger at the governor for mandating masks, no regard to how it might make those of us who live with a cancer patient or an elderly parent feel.

Some of my “friends” fill their timeline with forwarded posts and news stories about fake news media, hateful sarcasm about the other political party, skepticism about protests and online screaming about supporting police officers and truckers.

The negativity and anger doesn’t change any minds, but it does draw a dividing line in the sand.

It makes my introverted self want to go back to living anonymously, just me and books and a pet to soothe my hurting heart. It makes my wounded spirit want to turn off social media again. It makes my worried mind turn to the message from Sunday – to fill the bare spots of my soul, the places where God has weeded and cleansed, with that which uplifts and rejuvenates and provides peace in the middle of this storm.

I am grateful for social distancing that has provided so many blessings even while it has caused major disruptions to what we considered normal.

I am grateful for my brother and sister-in-law’s church, for a feeling of belonging, of being known among Friends. Even though we have never met anyone in their congregation in person, we are beginning to know them online every Sunday morning at 9 am, while we sit in the screened-in porch and participate in their church service, Zooming from Indiana to small town USA. I am grateful for the opportunity to participate, not just “spectate.”

I am grateful for the privilege of living in a big city, for the blessing of living in a small town. Both have so much to offer even though both have many, many challenges. I am grateful that I can recognize the beauty of both.

I am grateful for little miracles, like a finch nest in a hanging basket on our porch.

I am grateful for plenty of cards to send, and I am grateful that my grandchildren are beginning to learn the blessing of sending cards in the mail. It’s a huge blessing to open my mailbox and see cards addressed to Ama Scofield.

I am grateful for a brother and a sister who are taking care of my Dad’s needs now that I cannot help out.

I am grateful for Melissa who is teaching her children to be good citizens, to care for others over themselves, to be the hands and feet of Jesus. She is refusing to teach her children to draw that line in the sand that divides and creates more anger. I am so proud of her parenting.

I am grateful for the blessing of seeing a feather flutter down to the ground on my walk. It wasn’t a big deal, but it was something different that I don’t see every morning, and it was pleasant.

And I am grateful that there are still a few people in our circle who don’t mind wearing a mask and do so out of respect and care for others – especially for Sam – no matter their political slant. I am grateful for Julie tonight – she is one of my real friends who happens to be a Facebook “friend,” too. When I happened to log on to Facebook, she was the only one in my long news feed who made an actual positive statement about the new mandate.

It isn’t a big deal, and it is only inconvenient and temporary, not detrimental and permanent. I have begun to see the beauty of a face half covered – it allows me to focus on eye expressions that I had taken for granted for much too long.

I guess it really wouldn’t matter what the issue was, who was in charge of the world or the state, which party was in control, what crisis we were dealing with…since the Old Testament, people have been divided and lines have been drawn. The more things change in this world, the more they stay the same.

I am still introverted. I am still consumed with concern and emotion. I am still making stupid choices and glaring mistakes. I am still passionate about my evolving faith and desire to grow. And I am grateful, because I am still loved and shown grace on a daily basis, and I will keep counting the blessings and try to look for the good in this world while looking (over my mask) past the rest.