I have found myself saying this a lot this week: “I’m tired of thinking about the coronavirus.” Have you said or thought that too? I’m sure I said it a lot a year ago, but in corona-time, a year is like a decade and a month is like a year. So last summer was like a different era. And this summer felt different too, but in a good way. As more people were getting vaccinated, more things were possible, and it was great. I was excited and energized about non-stop improvements in health and safety…
And now this. To quote one of my favorite songs, we’re now all “in the land of the Delta blues.”
So once again, I’m tired of thinking about the coronavirus. However, I am truly blessed to be part of a great community here at our church. For anyone to be a part of this family of faith is a blessing, and one that should not be taken lightly. That’s why the church’s Health & Safety Team did not take the situation or our church people’s health lightly when it met this week.
No one liked having to put some of the rules back into place that we had 5 months ago, but nobody liked that the Covid cases in the county were again spreading like they were 5 months ago. We certainly don’t like pausing Sunday School, since we had only just gotten back to enjoying that good group time. And we don’t like having to wear masks more often like we used to, because wearing masks is annoying. So it was hard to make hard decisions, but the safety of those who come to our church is paramount as we follow Jesus’ command to love our neighbors.
To my knowledge, no one has gotten Covid from coming to our church. Not a one. As was expected, a few folks in our church family did contract Covid over the past year, as it spread to every community in the world. But thanks to the different safety guidelines we have used over the last year, no person got sick from coming to our church. And by golly I want it to stay that way.
Rules are frustrating and annoying, but I do remember when it was worse. I remember many weeks of standing in an empty sanctuary, preaching only to a camera. Those were weird lonely worship services, with only a handful of folks inside leading it. And when we came back, I remember having to put ropes and signs on the pews, and the ropes kept falling off, and sometimes your favorite seat had been blocked. (There won’t be any ropes this time for August, at least.) And a full year of Bible Study by myself, just talking to the camera. Ugh, those were the days. So I remember when it was worse.
Years from now we’ll be talking to each other or younger generations, and say, “Do you remember all that crazy stuff we had to do back then to stay safe? Back and forth, ups and downs, hopeful one day then worried about your family the next. Gosh, those were weird times. Thank goodness God was with us then. And thank goodness God is with us now.” I bet we’ll be saying that a lot in a few years. In fact, I might start it saying now. Because it’s true. Even when we are tired and frustrated, God is with us. And when we are weak like that, it's when we can be strongest, because we’re finally ready to let God’s Spirit fill us up.
May God’s Spirit fill us, guide us, soothe us, and strengthen us during hard times now and always.