Friday, 27 March 2020

COVID-19, Friday, March 27


Dear Church Family,

Have you been reading some of the funny memes that have been going around on Facebook and Twitter?  These jokes are usually the funniest when you can identify with them. Like the hymn selection one that says us pastors should avoid certain songs during the COVID crisis, like, “Breathe on me Breath of God,” and “Precious Lord, Take my Hand.”

Some of us can laugh at the jokes.  But others don’t see any of this as a laughing matter. 

Is it ok to be happy when so many are suffering?  It’s a question that comes up often in the life of a Christian.  Can I express, publicly, my thanks that I am safe and healthy and even able to laugh now and then when others are unable to do so? 

A nurse from our congregation shared this prayer request with me: Please pray for all the doctors and nurses, we are scared. We don’t have enough supplies; we are worried that we will get sick and make our families sick. Also pray for all those people in hospital who now can’t have visitors. So hard for them.

This is certainly no laughing matter.

And yet, on those days when you can laugh, consider your optimism and your cheerful attitude as a gift – a gift to be shared.  I remind people often, that being blessed isn’t about living the good life.  We are blessed in order to be a blessing. Already with Abraham, God chose him, decided to bless him, but for a purpose:  that all peoples on earth would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3). And this great verse, II Corinthians 9:11:  “You will be enriched in every way (blessed) so that you can be generous on every occasion.”

If you are in a good place right now, then you have room to bless others.  Not necessarily to share a joke, but maybe just to encourage someone to have a “closer walk with God,” at least figuratively.
Pastor Rita

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