I hope you are having a blessed
and fruitful Sunday no matter where you are or what your situation may be at
the moment. I was able to tune in to multiple live-streamed worship services
this morning. I wanted to take just a moment to thank all the pastors and
musicians who worked so diligently to make sure these online services were
available. If you are reading this and participated in running service this
morning, thank you! The fourth commandment still applies in times of pandemic.
I was glad to be able to join with so many in the worship of our almighty God
and in doing so, keeping our Sabbath day holy.
It’s
been a surreal couple of weeks, no question. From thinking of the Coronavirus
as a distant, far-off threat to shelter in place orders being decreed, we’ve
seen a lot in the last 14 days. Most of us alive have never experienced such an
uncertain environment. You might have to go all the way back to the Great
Depression or World War II to find an era that featured more uncertainty than
the times we are currently living in.
It’s
interesting that the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States during the Lenten
season. Unfortunately for my brothers
and sisters in Christ who don’t observe Lent, we were all forced into the
tradition of giving something up for Lent this year. Remember, God is
sovereign. Is he trying to tell us something about Lent? – Just kidding! Whether it is sports, concerts, working out, or
going to the local coffee shop, we’ve all had to do without something we really
enjoy.
I
usually talk to my dad back in Indiana on the phone a few times a week. On our
call today, we lamented the loss of baseball and the NCAA basketball tournament.
We quickly realized that our loss of sports is a drop in the bucket compared to
what some others are experiencing. Dad mentioned how he realized over the past
couple weeks how much time he really spends watching sports. He went on to
explain that he filled his new-found time void with Scripture reading, watching
Mass, and praying the Rosary. I’ve experienced a similar scenario as I’ve found
more time for landscaping and finishing books that have been sitting on the
shelf for ages. We all want things to get back to normal – and we’ll get there
soon enough! But this conversation got me to thinking. What if when things get
back to normal, normal looks just a little bit different? What if there is a
new normal?
·
What if we reestablished our homes as
ground-zero for the Christian life?
·
What is we resolved to catechize our children
rather than relying solely on youth ministers?
·
What if we spent less time with our electronic
distractions and spent more time in the Word as a family and having meaningful conversation?
·
What if we treated others with the same
compassion and charity that we have shown others during this pandemic?
·
What if we allowed Christ to be the center of
our lives and followed him without reservation or hesitation?
·
What if we rested in what He has already
accomplished for us on the cross?
·
What if we indulged the ordinary means of Grace –
His living, breathing Word in the Holy Scriptures and His true presence in the
Lord’s Supper?
What if?
Just something to think about.
Just something to think about.
In Christ,
Kendal May
