The grass is getting green. The trees and flowers are budding and the drab colors of winter are giving way to the bold colors of the new life of spring. As I watch out my window during this pandemic stay at home order, I long for the days of geing out of the house and congregating with people at local churches, camps, conferences, retreats, Christian Ashrams, and mission trips. I am a strong extrovert and I find life and energy in being with people. The contact through Zoom where I can talk “face-to-face” with people is helpful, but there is something special and life-giving to me about personal touch.
I am reminded of the Christmas season and our celebration of Emmanuel, God with us. We are reminded of Jesus being “the Word became flesh and dwelling among us.” Our God is a personal God who created us for community and relationships. The invitation is for us to gather together in worship, encouragement, and accountability with one another. In Hebrews 10:24-25 we are instructed, “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”
There is an old 1980s secular song entitled, “Don’t Know What You Got Till It’s Gone.” We are truly living this in our present condition. I believe the day will come when we are allowed to gather together in community once again. I believe God is bigger than the Coronavirus and God will heal our land. We need to persevere in our prayers and pray in the power of Jesus’ name for the healing to come. In the meantime, I want to invite you to do the following:
• Send a card/letter to a friend—not an email. A good old fashioned, handwritten card.