40 Days of Embracing Uncertainty - Day 14 (for Thursday, March 12)

It's been an unusually crazy day today.  Shoot, not only today, but these past few days - weeks, and months.  I sometimes wonder when Rod Serling is going to walk out into our picture of life and tell us all we've been watching an episode of The Twilight Zone. 

But that's not going to happen.  We live in reality, not fantasy.  The COVID-19 virus has set our entire world on a different course.  It's unprecedented.  Many persons that I've spoken with cannot ever recall anything like this happening anywhere... ever.  We are in uncharted territory.  Think of it - professional sports teams and individuals, colleges and administrators have given up millions of dollars by cancelling yearly events: March Madness, the NBA, NHL, and MLB seasons have been derailed.  The Masters Golf Tournament - the granddaddy of them all - postponed until another day.  High school state tournaments cancelled along with the dreams of playing on the big stage... a dream that for high school seniors will never happen.  All because of a very dangerous flu-like virus that has paralyzed the world.

I spent most of today talking with leaders of our three churches making a decision to live stream our worship service this Sunday instead of worshiping in person, where contact between persons could make a difference.  None of the other churches in our area have made that choice - yet.  In some ways, I/we went out on a limb by making this decision.  I guess you might say that I went out on a limb. 

It's a lonely place to be, sometimes - out on that limb making decisions that are designed to help keep people safe and secure.  Because I love gathering together to worship God!  There is nothing better than being in faith community praising God with songs, fellowship, prayers, children, inspirational music, reading God's Holy Word and just being able to come and be in the presence!  I will miss that this Sunday, even though I'll be giving the message via live stream.  It won't be the same - it's never the same. 

Some persons think I/we am/are being too cautious - that there is nothing to this national pandemic.  I won't try to dissuade them from thinking that - certainly it's their right to think that.  But I'd rather be overly cautious than be overly nauseous.  And if it turns out that after a period of time we had nothing to be concerned about, we really haven't lost anything - have we?  After all, everyone would be safe and secure then, right?  That's the whole point of making a choice like this - to give everyone the chance to be safe and secure in the midst of some very uncertain times.

This morning's devotion spoke of Jesus as the Good Shepherd.  A good shepherd knows when to steer the flock away from trouble, leading them to safe pastures and calm waters.  We desperately need safer pastures and calmer waters right now.  We definitely need a Good Shepherd who will keep watch over us while we try to rest our fears and allow our concerns to fade into the night like the sun as it slips over the horizon into the night. 

Gratefully, the Lord is our Shepherd.  He's on the clock watching over us.  Rest easy, my friends.  Jesus will lead us home.