I Am The LORD Your God

I am sitting in my chair looking out at the snow covered trees, from yesterdays spring snow. I am thinking about this interesting life 2020 has dealt us.  

I am wondering how other people, who live alone, are meeting the demands of a safe shelter existence.

For me it is an interesting time trying to be good company with myself.

It is actually a  life challenge most of us have never had to face before  — at least not in a publicly sanctioned situation.  

The questions that come to my mind are:  

How do we deal with ourselves?

   

Do we make good company with our feelings?

What is it we enjoy doing that requires only one?

What do we think about when the space in our live is void of life’s noises?

What are the activities we chose?  

                                              Do you read? 

                                                Or watch TV? 

                                                  Play games on your computers?  

                                                    Take walks when the weather permits?

I have a dear friend who has found relief by going to the beach, and walking along the side walk, letting God’s breath blow though her brain as she enjoys the fresh sea air.

That, by the way, would be my choice.  But we don’t have ocean in Iowa.

Or, or do we sit and worry?   Fretting about this crazy health danger that is moving through our world like wildfire?

Now, don’t get me wrong.  There is a real need to live smart, and be cautious,  during this most recent outbreak of disease.  

However, I want to remind you — as I have reminded myself —  that in centuries past there have been other great plagues.  Plagues that have taken over people’s need to control their lives; and rendered that need into meaning-less-ness. 

In the 1346 Black Death traveled from Asia To Europe leaving over half of the population wiped out.  And literally  changed the course of their history.

From 1665-1666 Black Deaths caused a huge exodus in London.

Here at home Philadelphia was faced with Yellow Fever in 1793.

And I have lived long enough to remember the polio epidemic that began in 1916 that was not controlled until the Salk vaccine was developed in 1954.

Our world never has been immune to the possibility of extraordinary awfulness.

The truth is, that like the destruction of natures cycles; human life has its way to cleansing — leveling the population.

                                                        Like wire fires do to the land.

We are indeed in the way of such a wildfire.

And my mind just went to Isaiah 43 (As you read leave out the O Jacob and O Isreal):

But now thus says the Lord,

   he who created you, O Jacob,

   he who formed you, O Israel:

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

   I have called you by name, you are mine. 

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

   and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

   and the flame shall not consume you. 

For I am the Lord your God,

   the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour.

I give Egypt as your ransom,

   Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. 

Because you are precious in my sight,

   and honoured, and I love you,

I give people in return for you,

   nations in exchange for your life. 

Do not fear, for I am with you;

   I will bring your offspring from the east,

   and from the west I will gather you; 

I will say to the north, ‘Give them up’,

   and to the south, ‘Do not withhold;

bring my sons from far away

   and my daughters from the end of the earth— 

everyone who is called by my name,

   whom I created for my glory,

   whom I formed and made.’ (Is. 43)