The past two years has been unlike any we can remember, and one we’ll never forget. We’ve been tried and tested, and in the process, we’ve learned more about ourselves and our world. It has been a time of adjustments, disappointments, and some cancelled events. Even worse, it has been a time of many losses, as many of us have lost loved ones. Sadly, no one has been left untouched by this global pandemic.

One university president said of his students at the start of the outbreak: “They will put up with absence and isolation …, and they will redouble their efforts to achieve the best things. They are determined to convert this disruption into an opportunity for excellence.”

That’s not the typical way of looking at disruption or tragedy. Most of the time, we just want to minimise the damage, heal as much as possible, and try to return to normal, even if we still have to carry some scars. But could there really be something better than “normal” ahead of us? Can we “convert this disruption into an opportunity for excellence”?

For example, could our experiences make us more compassionate or more loving; what the Bible calls the “more excellent way”? Perhaps, as we remember some of the isolation we felt during lockdowns, we will find ways to reach out to people who (for whatever reasons) might still feel isolated. As we reflect on the generosity of neighbours who shared with us when food ran out, we can find ways to share what we have with others in need. As we think of the innovations, large and small, that have helped us push through our difficulties, we can thank the medical personnel on the front lines and in the laboratories, who worked day and night to facilitate everything from ventilators to vaccines.

And perhaps most important, as we remember those who are no longer with us, we can consider how they would want us to go forward with our lives. What kind of excellence could we pursue in their memory?

Without question, the experiences of the past two years will change us. We will never truly be “back to normal.” But maybe normal is not what we want anyway, as long as “an opportunity for excellence” is within reach.

For two years, the pandemic has given us something this world has rarely faced; a common hardship. While everyone’s experience has been different, no person, no corner of the world, has been left untouched by this modern-day plague. The world feels different now; jobs and schools and so many other things have been forced to adapt. Yet, in the midst of all this change and instability, we’ve also rediscovered some things that never change, everlasting things that we value, now more than ever before.

For one, we have rediscovered the value of connection, of contact, and of love. We need one another. While video calls and online streaming are miraculous innovations, the pandemic has taught us that nothing can take the place of a face-to-face conversation with a dear friend or a warm hug from a family member. There’s just something irreplaceable about being together.

We have rediscovered how much we need kindness, compassion, and patience. One sad consequence of so much social distancing is the distance it too often puts between hearts and minds. The result is that people are more likely to use sarcasm, anger and criticism to express disagreement, especially online. At the same time, we’re more inspired than ever when someone resists those trends with kindness, gratitude, and respect. The power of kindness is never more apparent than when it takes us by surprise.

Of course, we’ve always known that closeness and kindness are important. These true principles have brought hope and joy to humanity during every trial and tragedy we’ve ever faced. But sometimes, in the midst of our troubles, we focus on the wrong things.

A beloved religious leader, Russell M. Nelson has said, “The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives.” God doesn’t always spare us from difficult circumstances, but He does give us true principles to keep us focused. If we focus on our most treasured relationships, on connecting with people we love, we’ll find strength to endure. If we focus on helping and caring about others, we’ll find that our own problems become smaller. Most of all, if we focus on the Lord and His goodness, we’ll find joy. It has always been available; we just need to know where to look.

By Samuel Enos Eghan