“Will we ever get back to normal in our country?” is a chant I hear from many. I feel that same anxiety as many of you do. I am pleased that there are small marks of more normal function slowly developing. We now have effective vaccines for COVID-19 and growing numbers who have been inoculated. Perhaps we may never get back to “normal.” Hopefully, we have learned some lessons from the pandemic which can help us in the future. I have tried to think about what I have learned. I now have a greater appreciation for things I have missed. Things like worshipping together in person, traveling to see family, and meeting friends at a restaurant are among those. I now am more consistent in hand washing. I am alert to how I affect the lives of people around me. Next flu season even if COVID 19 is not present, I may wear a mask at times to protect myself and others from the flu in addition to getting my flu shot. I have learned again how much human beings need another’s human touch. We have learned that we can survive and adapt under difficult circumstances. Perhaps it would be unfortunate if everything returned to “normal,” if we didn’t learn anything from this difficult time. Let’s bring back the best and change the worst and find a new normal. Whatever the future brings, when we get there, we will discover that God is already there ahead of us.