I’ve been thinking for weeks what I could say here to bring hope and comfort to those who might read my words. But words seem insufficient at such a time as this. And yet it is words that we most certainly need.
As I’ve prayed about what to say, I wrote an entire journal post and it still sits there, unedited. I’ve simply been too distracted with COVID-19 news and book work and so much more to think clearly.
But one thing this shutdown of normal life has given to us is time. I do think that we dare not waste it because time, even the type of time we would rather be using differently, is a gift. A most precious gift as those who have suffered loss in these recent months can sadly claim.
We have not yet been among those who have lost anyone that we are close to. We know of people who have, but we did not know those they lost. Still, our thoughts and prayers are with each one.
And while I hesitate to be critical at such a time as this, may I make one plea, one warning to those who do not take this seriously?
Please. Stay. Home!
I plead with churches who are remaining open on some hope or even false assumption that God will keep your people safe. To self-quarantine and not assemble for a short period of time is NOT disobeying God. No one in government is asking us to stop preaching the Good News about Jesus. No one is asking us to stop praying or stop believing or stop proclaiming life in Jesus’ Name.
All they are asking is for us to do so from a distance. Use the tools of our time, the technology which reaches beyond our church doors to reach each other. One of my readers told me her small church held service over the phone! They listened to the pastor and prayed for each other. How better connected can we be? Our church, and many others held communion remotely this past Palm Sunday. I see nothing in Scripture that would prevent any one of us from doing the same.
Let’s not show the world a false view of community in the name of what comes across as arrogance. Why not instead let us submit to the governing authorities as Paul taught us, and keep each other safe. Do so for the least of these. Because that’s what love does.
For us, life is the same yet different. It is good and strange. We are together 24/7, yet we find times to be apart. I think we need this—all families do—to make space where we can regroup and wind down—alone with ourselves and most especially with God.
My hubby, Randy, has kept busy with multiple house projects. To date he has fixed the ice-maker in the freezer, fixed an exhaust fan in one of the bathrooms, cleaned the soap scum from bathroom tiles and is planning to fix a shower door that sticks too easily. He’s painted and repaired the most difficult bedroom in the house, put in new moldings and doors and all of the little extras a room needs. He trimmed two trees and is just now gathering the branches for the yard waste pickup tomorrow.
While he is busy doing these things that I can’t do, I turned in edits on She Walked Before Us (see the newly updated page about it under Books – Nonfiction.) I also turned in the manuscript for Guideposts Ordinary Women of the Bible series titled Her Source of Strength: Raya’s Story. Raya is Samson’s mother (my fictional name for her.) She Walked Before Us is already available for pre-order at places listed on the above link and releases September 15, 2020. I do not have a date for the Guideposts novel.
If you are on my newsletter list (you can sign up on the Newsletter page), you should have received my Spring Newsletter this week. I hope the letter finds you doing well in your corner of the world.
In the middle of all of this, we had to cancel plans for a trip west to meet our newest granddaughter. I have to admit, I’m still bummed that I can’t hold her as an infant. We have no idea, of course, when it will be safe to travel again. So we console ourselves with pictures and videos and FaceTime. She’s one beautiful baby girl! But I feel that way about both of our grand girls.
Life feels the strangest because the state is on lockdown – as most of you are too. But because of our age, we have decided the only time we will go out is to walk around the block or to pick up a grocery order. We pay for delivery when we can get it. So I spend a lot of time shopping online and then it is normal to get only some of the items we order. I’m rather disappointed that we couldn’t get flour – and don’t even ask for tissue or toilet paper! But I’m in the mood to bake cinnamon rolls and don’t have enough yeast or flour. Sigh. I ordered more but they were sold out. Maybe next time. Or maybe I’m better off not baking something I will just eat too much of!
Still, whether we can do the little things we want to or not, we are truly grateful for so many things that we normally take for granted.
The list could take pages, but I will end with this Psalm, which brought me great comfort as I read it last night. It was written thousands of years ago, and yet the God who inspired it is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Though the world seems like it is falling apart, God still reigns. And we can come to Him for refuge any time, any where.
Psalm 46
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Be blessed. Stay safe. Trust Him.
#Godisourrefuge #newnormal #strangetimes #inmyworld #shewalksbeforeus #lockdown #coping
