Elder Compass - April 2020
Winter-Spring of 2020 A Different World? Or is it?
By Glenda Bourne
A March 19 Courier Journal analysis of our current times by Ted Anthony really hit home for me. He wrote:
When Americans are summoned to deal with an attack or defy overwhelming odds, the response typically goes something like this: Fight. Hold the line. Stand together. This won't stop us. Keep on living your life. We will prevail... Contrast that with a meme that has been popping up everywhere on social media: 'Your grandparents were called to war. You're being called to sit on your couch. You can do this.
Things in the world have changed, our lives and communities have changed, on a dime. Our usual way of handling crisis is to jump in, get busy, shovel the mud, rebuild the houses and get back to our normal as quickly as possible. This enemy is different; it has no face, no weapons, nobody to blame and set right. But our weapons are powerful: information, following guidelines (even as they change with more information), and most of all, prayer and trust in a God who throughout history has used everything as lessons for mankind.
We are all in this together. Every country, religion, race, age and gender and this is a chance for us to follow Jesus' teachings, even as we socially isolate ourselves. We have the advantages of the phone, text and e-mail, home deliveries and the television to keep connected to others. We must use these tools to express love, compassion and caring, to run errands for those who have needs, and pray that our leaders make good decisions. This is a good time to spend being conscious of God's constant presence, to listen to His teachings through Bible study and to His answers to our prayers. Remember we can take our prayers of anger, fear, loneliness, hurt, grief or confusion to the Friend who walks beside us.
Although we are apart, we have community in our God and his Son's death for our sins. Let us not forget this is the Easter season we celebrate not the C-19 virus season. This will pass but God’s Love will remain. Psalms 23 is always comforting to me in hard times...Remember He always walks with us!
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long. ~ Psalms 23