When this whole virus thing started, we were hit with a new reality very quickly. One day we were in the church office and the preschool children were chattering away in the classrooms; the next day we were closing up shop and staying home. At that time, our expectation was that we would be separated for a couple of weeks.
At first, things felt chaotic to me. I was trying to work from home, but everything I needed was at the church. Then came the anger that this was going to take a month rather than two weeks. Next was the acceptance and resolution to figure this out and make it work. I began to find creative ways to manage the daily binds and actually began to enjoy the challenge. I found myself getting more done that ever before, and I felt good accomplishing much.
Most of all, I enjoyed the moments I was able to slow down. Walking the dog, biking the neighborhood, watching the bird feeders, working in the yard, sleeping through the night, looking at stars… these are things that had been missing. Even though the work was demanding, I was finding a balance of rest and family time. My prayer life was healthy; my devotional time uninterrupted. I felt I was doing what God had asked of me, and – even in the midst of a pandemic – I was working hard to stay faithful to God’s call.
Now, more than two months later, we are still apart with no true end in sight, and I’m sliding back into old realities. I spend more time at my computer than I do with everything else combined. I don’t always eat with the family. My calendar is filled to the brim with Internet meetings and gatherings. My bike is accumulating a layer of dust (to be fair, it’s probably pollen), and my bird feeders need filling. My days are busy, busy, busy, and I often find myself working into the late hours of the night (or early hours of the morning). All went well for a time, but I’m falling back into my old ways and the balance is slipping.
One day, when the two were chatting, God reminded Moses of how the Israelites were brought out of Egypt and how important God’s people are to God’s heart. “If you faithfully obey me and stay true to my covenant, you will be my most precious possession out of all the peoples, since the whole earth belongs to me.” (Exodus 19, CEB) When Moses came down and told the people all that God had said, they were excited and responded with complete commitment: “Everything that the Lord has said we will do.”
Reading Exodus is not something I’ve done only once or twice. I know the stories. I know that this nineteenth chapter is about the people of God arriving at Mt. Sinai where they will receive the commandments that stand to this day. This place brings them to the realization of who they are as God’s people. Rescued from slavery in Egypt, protected from plagues and pandemics, saved from starvation in the desert – these are the ones who are God’s most precious out of everything the world has to offer.
I also know that the Israelite children are constantly committing to God and then constantly messing things up. This most recent promise of theirs won’t be the final word on following God. They will feel displaced at first, maybe even a bit chaotic. This will be a different kind of being, and they will be learning to live into a new normal, socially distanced from the enemy. Then, they will learn to embrace their existence and step up as empowered and hopeful people, creatively working to live in God’s will in healthy and balanced ways… until they get comfortable. At that point, slip ups will happen. Bad decisions will be made. Sin will be busy, busy, busy. All will go well with the Israelites for a time, and then they will fall back into their old ways.
I identify with the Israelites as they seemingly take one step forward and two steps back. I recognize much of my life in the days they spend looking for God’s will for their lives. I see myself wandering in and out of faithfulness, questioning my destiny, desiring my own control.
God, however, never leaves me in my despair. Regardless of my stability (or lack of), I am loved just as the children of Israel. I always hear God calling me back to the truth and reminding me that I am rescued, protected… and precious. That’s a new reality I welcome.
One step forward,
Pastor Beth
At first, things felt chaotic to me. I was trying to work from home, but everything I needed was at the church. Then came the anger that this was going to take a month rather than two weeks. Next was the acceptance and resolution to figure this out and make it work. I began to find creative ways to manage the daily binds and actually began to enjoy the challenge. I found myself getting more done that ever before, and I felt good accomplishing much.
Most of all, I enjoyed the moments I was able to slow down. Walking the dog, biking the neighborhood, watching the bird feeders, working in the yard, sleeping through the night, looking at stars… these are things that had been missing. Even though the work was demanding, I was finding a balance of rest and family time. My prayer life was healthy; my devotional time uninterrupted. I felt I was doing what God had asked of me, and – even in the midst of a pandemic – I was working hard to stay faithful to God’s call.
Now, more than two months later, we are still apart with no true end in sight, and I’m sliding back into old realities. I spend more time at my computer than I do with everything else combined. I don’t always eat with the family. My calendar is filled to the brim with Internet meetings and gatherings. My bike is accumulating a layer of dust (to be fair, it’s probably pollen), and my bird feeders need filling. My days are busy, busy, busy, and I often find myself working into the late hours of the night (or early hours of the morning). All went well for a time, but I’m falling back into my old ways and the balance is slipping.
One day, when the two were chatting, God reminded Moses of how the Israelites were brought out of Egypt and how important God’s people are to God’s heart. “If you faithfully obey me and stay true to my covenant, you will be my most precious possession out of all the peoples, since the whole earth belongs to me.” (Exodus 19, CEB) When Moses came down and told the people all that God had said, they were excited and responded with complete commitment: “Everything that the Lord has said we will do.”
Reading Exodus is not something I’ve done only once or twice. I know the stories. I know that this nineteenth chapter is about the people of God arriving at Mt. Sinai where they will receive the commandments that stand to this day. This place brings them to the realization of who they are as God’s people. Rescued from slavery in Egypt, protected from plagues and pandemics, saved from starvation in the desert – these are the ones who are God’s most precious out of everything the world has to offer.
I also know that the Israelite children are constantly committing to God and then constantly messing things up. This most recent promise of theirs won’t be the final word on following God. They will feel displaced at first, maybe even a bit chaotic. This will be a different kind of being, and they will be learning to live into a new normal, socially distanced from the enemy. Then, they will learn to embrace their existence and step up as empowered and hopeful people, creatively working to live in God’s will in healthy and balanced ways… until they get comfortable. At that point, slip ups will happen. Bad decisions will be made. Sin will be busy, busy, busy. All will go well with the Israelites for a time, and then they will fall back into their old ways.
I identify with the Israelites as they seemingly take one step forward and two steps back. I recognize much of my life in the days they spend looking for God’s will for their lives. I see myself wandering in and out of faithfulness, questioning my destiny, desiring my own control.
God, however, never leaves me in my despair. Regardless of my stability (or lack of), I am loved just as the children of Israel. I always hear God calling me back to the truth and reminding me that I am rescued, protected… and precious. That’s a new reality I welcome.
One step forward,
Pastor Beth