MJ order us some tall porch chairs. When I say tall, I mean that I have to stretch a little to sit in them. I love them! I am accustomed to being compelled to fold my legs under me…in short chairs. I customarily seek the tallest chair in the room! It is raining…once again. Our Boston Terrier, Brody, has just returned from his peanut butter/hydrotherapy. He is 16 + and tired…but happy.
I am continually inspired by our church board, called the session in the First Presbyterian Church, when I meet with them. What an honest hearted and sincere group of humble christians. They are amazing and inspiring!
We find ourselves in the midst of a pandemic….And an economic collapse that is likened to the Great Depression…and the murder of an African American by a police officer while his colleagues looked on…which has caused protests across our nation. I was a member of a church, many years ago, that taught the seven last plagues spoken of in the book of Revelation.
So how to stay focused during the tsunami of calamities? First we have to realize that we each receive bad news differently and we are affected on an individual basis. My experience with the devastation of the over 40 million job losses is different from someone who has lost their job. If you have lost a loved one to COVID-19…and I do not, personally, know anyone who has succumbed to the scourge…we understand its devastation from different experiences.
I can not begin to tell you how lost and lonely the family of Mr. George Floyd feels…as they watched their loved one die in his own country by members of a police force that was sworn to serve and protect…
I do know what is like to be poor in a rich country. I do no what is like to work 16 and more hours per day…and be food insecure. I do know what it is like for my friends and colleagues to feel that I must not have it all together…or be doing something wrong…to not be a success like they were…
The Apostle Paul said that he knew what it was to be, ‘abased and to abound,’ and I relate to that scripture. During the course of my 62 1/2 years I have experienced both poverty and plenty…and I understand how it feels to be marginalized and ignored.
It is our burden and our blessing to reach out to the members of our human family. We must not picture ourselves as winners of life’s lottery and self made women and men…we must understand and accept that we are the recipients of amazing grace!
Being shunned…and categorized and marginalized and pigeonholed…does terrible things to good people!
‘First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out-because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionist, and I did not speak out-because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and did not speak out-because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me-and there was no one left to speak for me.’
Martin Niemoller
The Jazz Man 
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