There are times we are called upon in the pursuit of learning to love our city when we forgo what seems convenient to us. That is a lesson we have learned in the wearing of a face mask daily for the purpose of social distancing.

One way to become part of the culture in your city is finding the shops that even remotely interest you. Then, frequent them. In the process, get to know the people who work there. Support them. It’s that easy. I’ll tell you a little story about our experience in doing that here.

We look for signs that everything o ok through the community. We aren’t able to answer that question on our own. We turn to others even strangers who seem even vaguely like to feel “normal” again. This is part of learning to love your city.

Every city is filled with its own folkloristic characters. Encountering these people and celebrating them is part of learning to love your city.

Have you ever felt like you didn’t fit in? Ever had to make a big change and felt overwhelmed by what it would take to adapt? Well, meet our son Zach. He will be the first to admit, fitting in for him has never been easy. But, he has found a way that works for him. And, he is developing into someone who helps the larger community. Hopefully, through his story you will find encouragement.

Part of learning to love your city is knowing it’s local story and the stories that envelop it. Often these stories are captured in song. Learning these songs brings the people closer to you. Like the song, “Bella Ciao”. It’s a song of Italian Resistance. Once sung in the uprising against Fascism now being sung in a new age.

In strange times, we sometimes feel that we are barely holding on by a thread. The Italians have been enduring for centuries as the celebrate their rich, cross-generational thread. And it’s made them stronger as a people. In today’s episode we talk about the strength we have within us because of the challenges and experiences of those who went before us.

Our daughter Lilly shares what is in her heart regarding all things Coronavirus. Specifically, her feelings about school closures, life in quarantine, and coping with a change of plans. Children have a way of describing their world and their struggles that gets to the heart. We hope this will speak to you and your children as you process how the world is changing.

In the Piazza where we live there is a solitary mulberry tree that symbolizes a rich history of industry in Cernusco sul Naviglio. From these trees silkworms fed for the sake of undergoing a natural process of transformation. Human hands interrupted this process. This episode talks about the interruption of process and how God uses it, along with our laments, to make something more precious than silk. He has us all on the loom.

This Easter Sunday churches around the world will remain closed and services will be conducted in a different way. We felt it was important to remind each other about the state of the Church on the very first Easter. Then, too, it was a group of believers in their homes, filled with anxiety over what might happen next. And also we wanted to remind each other of Jesus and his most anxiety-driven moment on Earth. Listen and see if you can find a sense of encouragement.

This episode is dedicated to our daughter Story, who recently went through something really terrifying. As she struggled for calm she found her place of safety. In God. You can too.

We took our inspiration for this episode from a listener who commented that we need a reassuring voice more than ever now. We couldn’t agree more. That voice can be the voice of God. Our material comes from our thoughts about what is written in Psalm 29 “the voice of God breaking Cedars”. May his voice break the strong hold of fear in you.