Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer – Romans 12:12
As we enter into another week, waiting, watching, wondering, and hoping for what the future holds; I am reminded of what normal looks like. In places outside of Knox County, schools are starting back, and friends are posting pictures of their child’s first day of whatever grade. Of course there is the disclaimer of reality in that many of them are starting school virtually. However, what I find hopeful about these pictures is that they show a perseverance in the way life should be, that time marches on, and though things are not the normal we want, life continues.
Deep down we all knew that life would continue on, those in the working world have been back to a ‘normal’ for many months now, and some things seem to have never closed or changed at all. Routines continue, they have simply been tweaked to work within a new reality. I know that we continue to pray for the virus to be stifled, for a working vaccine to be produced, and for life to resume as it did before this pandemic. Yet, at the same time, I think we might hope for something different, and dare I say it, better.
I am beginning to pray and dream for what it will be like when the congregation gathers. I am hopeful that we might be more grateful for opportunities to be together. I am hopeful that we will have a greater since of importance to being together, and I am hopeful that some patterns of deep conversations, and time well-spent with loved ones would continue.
I know we are not out of the difficult times yet, and it will take time and patients to navigate back to what is hoped for. There may still be setbacks, we may have to wait even longer before that first gathering, however, as Paul reminds us we need to be “patient in suffering,” knowing that our time exiled from one another has been difficult, and remains as such. But if we look at the ‘bookend’ statements to that call to patients, what we see is opportunity to rejoice in hope, and persevere in prayer. These surrounding phrases give us understanding that even in the most difficult of times, we often need to renew our focus on the positive, and from there, know that we can and will make it through, perhaps stronger in our faith because of the difficulty.
My hope for today, is that no matter what new news may come, we would rejoice and persevere for God is our hope, and in him we rejoice. Therefore, to God we pray for guidance, an extra outpouring of God’s Holy Spirit, and the love to bind us together until we are able to gather in-person again.
Grace & Peace,
Sam