Happy Friday everyone!
It's a beautiful day. Life is worth enjoying every minute we possibly can.
Bible Verses Revelation 22:21 (The Last Verse in the Bible) The grace of the Lord be with you. Amen.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for every season and purpose under heaven.
This is such an exciting time to be alive! In this year 2020, I like to think God is opening our eyes to 20/20 spiritual vision!
COVID-19 has been providing time and space for everyone to reset priorities, values, hopes, dreams, understandings of life and death, our purpose on earth, and God's eternal purposes. People and organizations have been rethinking what matters, what is most important, what we are doing right, what needs to change, who we are, who we want to be, how we can do better, what difference we are making in the world, what we want our legacy to be, what gives meaning in life. More people are tuning in to the Spirit than ever before! Sermons are being heard. God's Word is alive!
Multiple videos of racist attitudes and killings, culminating in the video of the murder of George Floyd, have opened people's eyes, that weren't already opened, to the disregard for human life that exists in the hearts of some people. The global reaction to the disregard for George Floyd's life is not based on the goodness of George Floyd. George Floyd is a human being; therefore, his life matters. It is my belief that the global reaction is based on the shocking reality that a person who was lying handcuffed on the ground was calmly and slowly killed in public by a police officer. It's based on the reality that three other police officers were watching. It's based on the reality that the killing was done by the very people whose job it was to protect people in that location. It's based on the reality that there was a delay in arresting the police officers. It's based on the realization that if there had not been a video, the original reports would have been the final reports, saying George Floyd was resisting arrest, and that his death was not caused by Derek Chauvin. It's based on the recognition that blacks and whites in our country have very different experiences with the law and with officers of the law.
This is an incredible time in history! There is so much spiritual energy right now! So many people are filled with a desire to move our world further along the arc toward justice and righteousness. This is not about being Republican or Democrat. This isn't about believing in capitalism or socialism. This isn't about small government or big government. This isn't about identity politics. This is about re-evaluating our laws and our equal application of the laws for all people, and holding all people accountable. This is about re-evaluating our hearts, our humanity, and our compassion for others. God, help us to mandate and apply equal justice for all. God, help us to strive for righteousness for all people. God, give us the will to care for others as ourselves. Thank you God for allowing us to be part of this time, this season, this purpose under heaven! May we be faithful.
Hymn # 819 PCUSA Glory to God Hymnal Be Still, My Soul words Kathleen von Schlagel 1752, trans. Jane Laurie Borthwick 1855 music Jean Sibelius 1899, arr. The Hymnal 1933 tune FINLANDIA
Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side. Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain. Leave to thy God to order and provide, who through all changes faithful will remain. Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake to guide the future securely as the past. Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake; all now mysterious shall be bright at last. Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know his voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on when we shall be forever with the Lord; when disappointment, grief, and fear are gone, sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored. Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past all safe and blessed we shall meet at last.
Quarantine Truth # 1 It's the small daily happenings that make life spectacular.
Quarantine Truth # 2 Simple walks with my parent around the block when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.
Quarantine Truth # 3 Nobody talks about Jesus' miracle of his having twelve close friends in his 30's.
Quarantine Humor # 1 I'm so bored I went outside to knock on my own door, then came back in and said, "Who is it?"