I confess, as we enter the third year of a pandemic, it’s exhausting. To mask, to N95, or not to mask. To gather or not to gather. To welcome loved ones or not; or with the question... Are you boosted? It seems absurd to hear Lynn Unger’s words, “What if you thought of it as the Jews consider Sabbath-the most sacred of times.”
Perhaps the pain we feel is the death of the myth of control. We felt (pre-pandemic) as if we had control of our lives. Then over night, the world shut down. Then, came emerging variants, more contagious, more deadly.
It was two years ago that I wrote, “Think of a stop light: green, yellow, and red. Living during COVID19 we have learned that there are medical professionals, state officials and denominations in each of these categories.” I would add that there are friends and families at each of these levels too.
We are now in the phase of living in a pandemic. We have vaccines, boosters, masking, cleaning, distancing, zoom, online and in-person worship. Each person needs to continue to make the best decisions for themselves as we live in this pandemic.
Our church, like most schools, hospitals, and businesses does a daily pandemic triage. This means that somethings change daily based on the health of the body. If we have the leaders to open a class or area, we will be open. When we have leaders who are sick or have been exposed we will close that class, or ministry or move it online for a moment.
It is exhausting, but even in a pandemic we have the privilege to be the church: to worship, to grow, to serve and to lead. Perhaps Lynn Unger is right…this is the most sacred of times.
Join me Sunday in-person in the building or online as we continue our series, Losing my Religion, as we look at the challenge and normality of hypocrisy.
Yet, I share these four things each week because we know them to be true:
- You are loved by and matter to God
- No crisis will last forever
- There is always hope
- Others can help, just ask
Grace and peace.
Rev. Dr. Duane A Anders (He, Him, His)
Cathedral of the Rockies, Boise FUMC
P.S: In less than three months, United Methodists have contributed about $240,000 to the Love Beyond Borders: End the pandemic Advance. You can give HERE.