Thou Shalt Not Gather nor Sing

What were the rules made against churches during the pandemic? 

First, I think it was OK to gather, but not to sing. Then, I think it was only a certain number of people could be inside the church building. Then, no indoor gathering, period.

What did we do? We worshiped on ZOOM.

Remember when God told Moses to say to Pharaoh, "Let my people (the enslaved Israelites) go three days' journey into the wilderness to worship Me"?

First Pharaoh said, "You  can worship but stay here in Egypt." Then he said, "OK, go into the wilderness but don't go very far away." Then he questioned, "Just who is to go?" When Moses said, "Our young, old, sons and daughters and all our flocks and herds," Pharaoh said, "No, only the men can go." Finally Pharaoh said, "All right your little ones can go, only the flocks and herds may not go."

Each time Moses was relentless. "We must go three days' journey into the wilderness with all our people and animals to worship our God." And you remember what God did to Pharaoh and the Egyptians.

We, too, will worship the Lord our God in the way He has commanded: gather together (ZOOM or in person) and "Sing to the Lord all ye saints of His and  give thanks at the remembrance of His Name." (Psalm3:4) "Praise the Lord! sing to the Lord a new song, praise Him in the assembly of His saints." (Psalm 149:1)

Hm-m-m, this is Super Bowl weekend and I just heard the following instructions: "Don't cheer. Use noise makers." Really? 

Insightfully yours,

Paulita

Covid-19 Vaccinations

 The Bible says that there was a pool in Jerusalem called Bethesda. It had five porches and in those porches lay a great number of sick folk, some blind, some crippled, some paralyzed. There was a certain man there who had suffered a deep-seated and lingering disorder for thirty-eight years. When Jesus noticed him lying there helpless, knowing he had already been in that condition a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to become well?"

The invalid answered, "Sir, I have nobody when the water is moving to put me into the pool; but while I'm trying to come myself, somebody steps down ahead of me."

Jesus said to him, "Get up, pick up your bed and walk!" Instantly the man became well, picked up his bed and walked.

Why, I wonder, does this remind me of trying to get my Covid-19 vaccination? Probably because I'm not eligible to get a shot in a care facility - I live in my own home. Neither can I stand in a long line or carry my own chair because I'm eighty-eight years old. Currently my physician does not give these shots and the pharmacy does not have a sufficient supply of the vaccine. Yes, I do want to remain well. I need Jesus.

Christmas Aftermath from 2019

 I found this buried on my desk. It was written after last Christmas which was not my favorite Christmas. I had spent December running the Christmas marathon instead of looking forward to the celebration of my Savior's birth. The company was gone and I was in let-down mode.

Christmas is over and peace reigns in the house. Sasha, the cat, comes out from under the bed where she has been hiding from the noise, clammer and one two-year old. She sniffs everywhere to find out who has been here and where they might have been before coming to our house.

She finds an occasional crumb that tastes good and others that she only sniffs. When she comes upon a red M&M on the kitchen floor, she decides it's a toy and bats it across the room.

The Christmas tree lights are still on and the packages that must be delivered elsewhere are still under the tree. But the only sound is the heater going on. Sasha thinks that's a good sound because it means a warm grate to sit upon and warm her flanks. Soon the heater goes off and she remembers her red M&M. She bats it from paw to paw until it hides under her food bowl. Life is good!

It will be interesting to see how Christmas 2020 goes.

Insightfully yours,

Paulita

The First Rain of the Season

 Our first rain! How lovely to sit in a warm house and watch the water drip off our roof. I imagine the air is getting washed, the dust is shoved to the ground and turned into mud.

I hear a siren in the distance and realize that the first rain also brings slick roads and I have to be extra careful when I drive. But perhaps the rain will put out our California wildfires. What blessed relief from God who is the One who brings rain. Was it just last year that we had yard signs all over town that said "Pray for Rain'?

My cat is looking in through the glass door. She had wanted out and we do have a covered porch, but I guess she's had enough cool and now wants to sit on one of the heater vents around the house. She has her favorite.

Interesting, the life of a cat. So leisurely. I should talk. Here I sit in my warm house watching the drips fall from our roof. The first rain.

Waiting for Oz

 I'm out on my patio again this morning with my buttered sesame bagel and creamed coffee and my latest writing project. It's light bur the sun hasn't risen above the neighbor's trees yet. Will it be another orange ball in a brownish gray sky or will it's brightness forbid me to look at it?

The sky is once more a light gray. I can't smell smoke or see it drifting in and out of trees, but neither can I see the blue sky I long for. Do I remember what it looks like? I refuse to count the days since we've had clean air for fear of depression, but neither do I want to listen to the T.V. as it tells me how to protect my pet from smoke. This just is. It won't last forever, so I get on with the day's chores - bathe, wash my hair and make it look presentable, purchase new cartridges for the computer, manage my writing, look in the frig and see what I have to transform into balanced meals.

Again this seems to me a time of waiting. I'm waiting for the Wizard of Oz moment when I wake from my black and white life to the red, yellow, green, and especially blue skies of Oz. Until then I will praise the God of my salvation for new and different ways to learn and grow. Yes, God gives us time to hunker down but somehow I don't think it's now. This is a brand new day to discover,explore, fertilize, water and push open.

Insightfully yours,

Paulita

Ashes, Ashes, All Fall Down

 Today my world is covered with a fine coat of ash. There are wild fires all over my state and the wind has blown the ashes into the valley where I live. Yesterday, I couldn't see the sun through the smoke. Today, I see an orange ball in my gray-brown sky. Yesterday, I went out to water my garden and there was ash on all my squash, swiss chard, and bell pepper leaves. Today, it's my patio. When I walk on it, the ash swirls into small piles.

Our son bought us an air purifier and we put it in our family room where we spend most of our time.We didn't realize our need for it until the last two days.

O Father God, You are the one who controls the storms. Please send us a gulley-washer to clean our air and wash away the ashes.

Father, how selfish I am. Many have lost their homes and livelihoods and pets. Some have lost family members. I have lost nothing except my comfort level. Sweep away the ashes that cover my heart and help me, today, to help someone else.  

Insightfully yours,

Paulita

Holding On or Letting Go

 I'm out on my patio again. The air is cool - 70 degrees F. and I don't smell smoke. It's there, but it's high and not sinking down in the heat yet.

Everything is quiet except man and his machines, mostly motorcycles. The only signs of life -  micro life, that is -  are a sow bug that's not moving and a busy spider-like creature.

A humming bird comes to our feeder, tastes what is offered and flies away. No wonder. The ants have found our feeder again. They cleverly climb the posts, cross the beam and go down the wire that the feeder hangs from. Then they clog the feeding holes, gorging themselves on free sugar-water. Bill decided to outsmart them by covering the wire with two-sided Scotch Tape, hoping for a result like tar paper or Sticky Paws, but it hasn't deterred them.

I look back at the sow bug and discover he's on his back kicking furiously with all his legs. I wonder how many legs he has. I also wonder if he can right himself.

I hear there's another storm heading up the California coast. It may have dry lightning like the last storm which ignited fires in our foothills and magnificent redwoods. It is yet to be seen how that will turn out. And now more?

My thoughts go to the story of Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee when his disciples woke him with their cries, "Master, don't you care that we are drowning?" Jesus told the storm, "Peace, be still," and the disciples marveled that he was master even over the wind and waves.

We are fighting a pandemic which all of a sudden seems dwarfed by these wildfires. Then we hear of two hurricanes which may strike our southern border at the same time. "Acts of God" they are called. But I like Peter's answer when Jesus asked if he wanted to leave him and follow the disheartened crowd, "If I leave you, to whom shall I go?"

I also remember how Satan buffeted Job with wave after wave of disaster hoping to turn him away from his faith in a gracious God. Job's livelihood was taken, his family died, and he was covered with open sores. Even his wife said, "Curse God and die." But Job clung to his hope of a living Redeemer.

I see my little sow bug has all but ceased kicking, so I reach down with my napkin and he hangs on. He doesn't move, he just clings. I watch him. Soon his little front feelers move in exploration. He appears to be OK so I relocate him to some dewy lawn and go in  the house to get ready for virtual church.