I was having lunch with a few friends today and we were talking about guess what?

The Pandemic!😫

We were discussing how it has affected our capacity and our ability to do what we had before. I think because we haven’t had the opportunity to socialise, join in with different clubs, volunteer, travel etc. over the past 18 months we formed new rhythms. Even though these rhythms technically meant we were doing less than before, because of all that we were journeying emotionally, we were just as tired if not more tired than before.

Therefore, as we emerge into a post lockdown world where new/old opportunities are presenting themselves we can feel overwhelmed by it all. Often we reject these new/old things because me are already full and we don’t believe we can fit them in.

Of course we must be mindful. The last thing we want to do is to create unsustainable lives where we end up burnt out as a result. But we must also remember the call of Jesus on our lives.

We can do so much more than we believe we can.

My mind journeys to when I started to run or begin attending the gym. After the first sessions I was done. My legs couldn’t walk up or down stairs easily and were sore to the touch. During the sessions I wasn’t able to do a lot and even when I pushed my capacity was low. Fast forward a few years. Running and going to my gym still leaves me tired. Even as I write this post my legs are sore from yesterdays class.

Has anything changed? Is my capacity still as low?

No – my capacity has increased. I can run further and faster than I ever have, the kettle bell used in yesterdays class was 4 kg heavier than the one I started with and I am 2 1/2 store lighter as well. I’m still tired but my body is so much further on and overall I am so much heather!

Lets be careful as we more forward to remember that our capacity is not fixed, its flexible. Lets not be so concerned about stretching beyond return that we simply stay limp.