Living the 6ft Rule

                                                 

   7 a.m Sunday morning .  Standing at the front room window I look out at what seems perfectly natural and normal; a ray of sun shining though a clouded sky, two doves sitting on the telephone wire - I always think they’re looking back at me , waiting for their morning hello, and two squirrel’s chasing each other across the street.

     But nothing is normal. The world is in crisis, at war with an unseen enemy , except in in the death and illness of thousands of people . 

     Here in Washington state , we along with  citizens of other states and countries have been mandated to Shelter at Home. 

Retail, restaurants, pubs, schools, the library, and churches are closed. Employees working from home, others have lost their job .

We read about hospitals being overwhelmed, even doctors and nurses succumbing to the enemy, the cruel and unrelenting Coronavirus,  Covid 19 .

     One friend described being at the market like watching a Science Fiction movie. Customers wearing protective gloves and distancing themselves from one another , and shelves empty of all cleaning supplies , bread, soups, pasta , toilet paper, and other grocery items.  My Dad’s wife, Susie likened the shutdown of their community in The Villages - all the empty streets , closed stores, Bistro’s  , clubhouses, Dentist’s and Barbers to a Stephen King novel - strange and eerie. 
     I think for me, seeing the picture of Pope Francis standing alone in the evening rain , at the Vatican to give his Urbi et Obi (to the city and the world) message was most surreal. St.Peter’s Square when on any given day prior to the Covid war would be filled with thousands of the faithful, and happy tourists awaiting the Holy Father’s blessing. 
      Churches, Synagogues and Mosques have always been a place for believers , and even  non-believers to gather in time of national crisis to seek comfort, to pray together, to petition God’s intervention.   Now our churches are closed. We feel isolated and alone. Separated from the freedom of our  daily coming and going.  Not able to give or receive a hug, or reach out to take someone’s hand. It brings uncertainty and fear.  We are a communal people and need physical contact.  Country singer Dolly Parton says our travail right now is a lesson from God to keep the faith and don’t be too afraid.   And while our brick and mortar churches may be closed, a curious happening is taking place; hundreds, maybe thousands of churches are live streaming, and millions of people tuning in, hungry for God’s word and message of hope. Just this morning,  Pastor Joel Osteen in an empty Lakeland Church in Houston, Texas live streamed to over a million people words of encouragement. 
    Pope Francis said we may feel afraid and lost , but we are all in the same boat, in this together . He admonished us to choose faith over fear and call out to the Lord as the disciples did in Mark 4:35-41 when on the stormy sea, asking for Him to calm the storm. 
    Having faith doesn’t mean to disavow the rules and guidelines, the orders given us by the medical experts , and authority to stay at home, to wash our hands , distancing , and the 6ft rule. I believe  just the opposite. By following the guidelines we are doing our part in answering God’s healing prayer , for ourselves and others.  
And whenever we sign off with a Be Safe, Wash your hands, I like to think what we’re saying is you matter to me, I care about you.
     Last night I studied Psalm 27 and read and re-read verses 13-14. I hope they bring meaning and good cheer to all who read as they do me.
     I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thy heart: wait, I say on the Lord
              

Be safe , and remember the 6ft Rule