Writing has become a challenge for me during the past few months as the pandemic reared its ugly head and caused havoc and fear around the world. Everyone has been challenged and changes have made us realize that we cannot take living as usual for granted. Life as we knew it in the past will never be the same again. Like it or not, we are here and asking the question, “How are we going to live into tomorrow without fear of the unknown?”
I asked several friends what they thought was the biggest lesson they have learned so far from this experience. Some of them are unemployed and many are struggling with the problem of where the rent or house payment will come from or how to put food on the table for their families. Meanwhile, there are those who have a source of income, large or small, and do not have those kinds of worries but feel responsible and are using their resources to take care of others. Almost everyone I asked said that they have been able to strengthen their relationships with family, friends and God. Others, myself included, have been surprised to find that working in the yard and flower gardens is actually a good thing. Who knew? There has been a positive side to this dilemma but no solution. I am leaving that up to the experts who know more about medicine and science than I will ever know. I am a follower in this regard.
Speaking of being a follower, I know that everyone reading this has not decided to become a Christian or a follower of Jesus. Some may not believe in God the Creator, and that is okay. We are all on our own journey and make our own decisions. I can only speak for myself and confess that, as a follower of Jesus, I have been able to meet each tomorrow with the hope that this will be a better day and trust God to do the rest. I have not made it this far overnight but I am at the point in my spiritual life that I am able to have complete trust in God. I no longer ask the unanswerable questions like why God lets things happen or not happen. That is another whole issue for The Kernel to talk about another time. Today, I simply confess that I believe that our invisible friend, Jesus who loves us no matter what is going on in our lives, is walking with us every step of the way. We are facing the enemy (covid-19 and the devil) together. I am convinced that our victory is in Jesus. Because of that reality, we can live without fear.
God bless you on your spiritual journey and beyond,
Rev. Carol
This is a picture of one of my favorite trees. It reminds me that we are rooted in God’s love and grow in Jesus to become the individual leaves as in his story of the vine and branches found in John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. (NIV)
