Exchanging the Old for the New

As the governor begins to talk about opening up the economy and allowing more businesses to operate, many people are talking about getting back to normal life. I am not sure that will be possible in the near future. While allowing more commerce to happen with more businesses opening, we will still be living with Covid-19. Although, I am not sure that getting, “Back to Normal,” is what we really want. If you have been watching the news and your neighborhood, there are benefits from the stay-at-home orders and social distancing. The pictures of the major cities around the world today compared with a year ago are dramatic images of what we have been doing to God’s creation in the past with our old lifestyle. Closer to home, as you may also have experienced, I have met and talked with neighbors that I did not even know existed before this time. I have spent more time with my family instead of rushing around making sure I do everything I need to. Yes, I know, it will be good to get back to in-person visits and worship, shopping in stores instead of on-line or curbside pickup, let alone finding toilet paper and affordable meat in a store. There are many things that we all miss during this time, but do we really want to go back to exactly what it was like before?

I suggest that you ponder this time and see what part of that old normal is something you wish to return to and what part you wish to change. If we all look carefully we will see that our lives were filled with many unimportant things. We spent too much time chasing after what the world told us was important and not what truly is. You can do this. You can evaluate and work to change your life, your relationships, and your expectations. We are people who are shaped by new beginnings, made whole by death and resurrection. We are people who live in the newness of Christ. So use this unexpected and, sometimes, unwanted, pause in “normal” life for prayer and reflection and let God show you a new better way. Keep the faith, live in hope, and love others as God first loved you. Let God change your life so to see in all things what God has done for you through his son Jesus.

Peace,
Pastor John