The internet is an overwhelming place right now. Yesterday Will and I discussed it as I dropped sweet corn seeds into a newly-tilled patch of earth in our front yard.
“It’s like walking into a room where 30 people are all screaming at you,” Will said.
The current coronavirus pandemic has made many people nearly crazy with fear, whether it’s fear of sickness and dying, fear of being unable to keep a job, fear of losing religious freedom, or fear of being duped by the powers that be.
Feelings and opinions flare hot, and through it all runs an undercurrent of grief. Losing the normalcy of life to new levels of stress and isolation is hard to bear.
But I keep seeing people overlook an important piece that would completely change their perspective, and it makes my heart ache. So many of us are too preoccupied with our opinions and fears to see it.
Yes, we live in uncertain times, but God is at work.
Instead of bemoaning what is past and being afraid of the future, we need to be asking “what is God doing here and now?
“What unique Kingdom opportunities are here right now? How can I participate with God in what He is doing?”
Participating with God is such a purposeful and hopeful way to live!
I have long felt that God’s people need to be extremely flexible to be active and useful in what He is doing in our time. This crisis is another chance to exercise that flexibility.
God has never been hindered by such trivial things as whether a congregation can hold services in a special building on Sunday morning. I love going to church, yet the traditional Sunday morning service isn’t all that constitutes church.
Instead of trying to recreate systems as we know them, maybe we need to look for new ways to infiltrate the world with the love of Jesus.
These days uncertainty is wearing off protective layers, leaving many people feeling vulnerable and tender. All the opinions thrown around about conspiracy theories and what will happen to the economy are doing precious little to answer any real questions pressing on people’s hearts. The political arguments are a distraction at best.
What does God want for those of us who are hurting and afraid? How can I be the gentleness and peace of Jesus to others during this time? How can I treat their vulnerability with love and care, just as Christ has loved and cared for me?
I’m seeking to live in this new normal in a way that is both meaningful and restful. God is at work, and I don’t want to miss out.
arabah rejoice 
Thank you for these uplifting words! I am trying to be intentional about processing the grief and loss, while at the same time I feel so much anticipation about what God is doing. When we are in tune with Him and know how to hear from Him, the hope within us overflows to the world around us. This is how I want to live!
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Yes! Living in hope beats living in fear by a long shot!
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Rosina dear, Very well written! Great pertinent questions. I certainly agree that we were never called to “go” to church but were called to “be” the church. While we miss direct connection and hugs, as when we went to a church meeting, we find this new era an adventure of how to connect in purposeful to the community around us. ie. Early on, Dolores woke in the night and felt led to offer our services to the widows in this county as the local Mennonite church has offered an annual widows Fall banquet for the last 15 years and a Valentine Day event. Thus a letter, offering assistance to pick up groceries, prescription drugs, run errands or receive phone calls was created. It was a delightful rewarding family project to mail the 258 letters. (The contact info was divided out among the Widows Banquet committee) The response indicated meeting an absolutely wonderful need. Than it occurs to us that this is “being” church.
As you know, it’s a stretch to move into a new area to be a representative of faith. In August 1992, I was invited to attend a Ministerial Alliance meeting of Pastors and Mission Directors of this county. My Beachy Amish roots took a timid approach but today as I look back, this monthly gathering has been a deep rich blessing of Christian brothers from all denominations sharing and praying together to enhance the Gospel per our separate callings. In our gathering this month, it was brainstormed of how can we impact this community and create perhaps a unique memory of this Easter when churches can’t gather. In calibrating with the local radio station, they are broadcasting every day that at 7:30 Sunday morning will be an Easter scripture reading and worship songs. Than at 4:00 afternoon, a community wide event, “front porch singing” of the Hallelujah Chorus as played by the local station. (Wish we’d live in a different part of town for this as we don’t have any neighbors.) All to say, I’m excited to see the Alliance pull together in an effort to mutually represent the gospel of Jesus, in this small way!
Thanks for your inspirational blog and writing. It’s a joy to know you know what it means to go away from certain comfortable Menno community norms and find new avenues of eternal impact because you followed the Lord.
Blessings galore, Uncle Loren Miller, DPM
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As always, you inspire me! I love your creative ideas for meeting needs around you, and how you stay connected to God enough to notice new ways of touching lives. Our town also has a Ministerial Alliance, which has shown me how precious it is when different denominations pool resources and work together. Others have so much to teach me if I can be humble enough to learn!
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Well said. Trying to be intentional about noticing opportunities and enjoy the adventure.
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Looking at it as an adventure makes the whole experience so much easier to bear. God has so much to teach us, if we are willing to listen!
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Yes Ro, you hit it right on the head again. Thank you for your example of loving God and others through it this whole thing. You are the best! I love you!
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Love you, too, sis! 🙂 Happy Resurrection Day!
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I love your thoughts here, and agree completely! Thanks for another refreshing post! 😍
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Thank you, and have a wonderful Easter! 😉 Christ is risen, and He makes all the difference!
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Such good thoughts! I know there is a purpose to all this and we need to be patient and have faith. Maybe we need to think about the things that we have to do without? Do we really need them? Can I spend more time with my family? Can I draw closer to God? Praying for comfort for the families dealing with the loss of loved ones. Trying to hear Gods voice and remember he knows what he is doing. He is a good God!
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Yes, living with an ear tuned to God’s voice helps so much in the face of uncertainty. Blessings to you, dear friend. You inspire me!
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