Faith… Hope… and Choice…

As I reflect on the last 2 years it’s hard to believe how much life has changed for so many people. I think back about Covid-19, all the weather emergencies, as well as disasters that happened. With so much information to follow and so much devastation in our country, it made me think about how we handled all these situations in life. Where did we all find our comfort on those darkest days? …I know for me, it was my faith and hope that got me through the hardest moments.

Then I started to wonder: How much do other people think about the same issues? What about people with disabilities? Where do they find their comfort? Where do they look for support? Is it friends and family? Or maybe specific communities such as work, church, or other sources in the neighborhood? As I clung to my faith and hope, it was friends, family, and our community church that helped me through the difficult seasons.

Do not get me wrong, there were plenty of bright moments too. I think we must have those cheerful surprises and sources in our lives to keep the faith and bolster hope to push through the most trying of times. Often I rely on my family and my church to be that heartening encouragement I need when things get tough.

Faith can have a different meaning for different people. It can be a confidence or trust in someone, faith in another’s ability, or belief in God or in the doctrines and teachings of a religion. It can also be a belief in anything, such as a code of ethics or standards of merit.

Before Covid-19 began, my husband and I decided to open an antique store. It was called Anchors Away.  Anchors Away opened in January of 2019. It was amazing. We were buying and selling. Suddenly, we were meeting people that wanted to sell their craft with us. Everyone was happy. Running errands, hunting treasures, managing inventory, and overseeing open days, we did not have one minute to ourselves, but we were living the dream.

We would greet our store neighbors, see our regular customers daily, and participate in community events to help others. Life was good! I couldn’t wait to get there every day just to see what the day would have “in store” for us. Everything was going great until in 2020 we got the news that we had to shut down due to Covid.

We were Lost!  Our dream was on hold.

However, we reopened in April of 2020 with many safety precautions. Things just weren’t the same. We lost store friends to Covid, and no matter what we tried, our little store could not make any head way past the devastation Covid had brought.

Our lives changed so much from what it was before Covid. Though we knew it would never be the same, we continued to stay open. Relying on our faith and hope to find answers for our changing times, we stepped forward.  Our faith was like an inner voice that kept reminding us to keep a positive outlook in life.  I prayed and asked for answers to my prayers.

I didn’t get the answer that I was expecting. The store ended up closing but ultimately we still had gained a lot. We gained everlasting friendships through our time at that store, helped others, and even donated some items to local charities. Returning to our church on Sundays, we found the people there made us feel like we never missed a week. The love and support was amazing.

I think about this famous quote by Mr. Rogers.

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”

Fred Rogers

Really, I see so much community in everything, whether it is through church, organizations, or neighbors coming together. I am amazed when I hear stories of goodness.  Stories like: Churches donating to families who are devastated by fire or flooding. Communities reaching out to lend a hand with whatever support is needed. Strangers buying meals for other strangers, just to pay kindness forward!

Faith is unseen but felt. It is strength when we feel we have none left. Faith is hope when all seems lost.

Faith and hope are so crucial for whatever seasons we face in life and everyone has choice. Every person, whether neurotypical or someone with an intellectual/developmental disability has choice. Just like when we head out our door we have a choice to go left or right, we have a choice with what direction we want our lives to take.

People can choose what communities and groups of people they want to meet. They can choose what churches and organizations they want to join. People can apply to any job, and in America, people can participate in any faith. Let’s do what we can to support others in faith, hope, and choice.