Coronavirus Christmas

 The whole world stands and quakes in fear. In fear of a virus called Covid-19. This is not only an immensely contagious virus, but it can also be deadly. Therefore, all steps must be taken to prevent infection. We have to watch vigilantly because every human being alive is a potential carrier. Measures are mandated by law to limit contact. Public health orders restrict gatherings at private residences and allows critical retailers to only sell essential items.

Hospitals are locked down so tight it’s impossible to go see a loved one, unless death is holding that loved one by one hand, and then, maybe access is granted, or maybe not. 

Old people are especially vulnerable, therefore Assisted Living Centers and Old Folks housing is locked down, effectively keeping the loneliest lonely. 

People are strongly urged to stay locked in their homes, and must let in no one, not even known and trusted contacts like relatives and friends. This will protect them against possible infection. Neighbours peeking out from behind curtains are called to call out rule-breaking neighbours, thereby slowing the spread. Monetary fines will be handed out, and already have. 

Grocery and daily needs shopping is preferred to be done online, or by store drive-by pickup, effectively limiting dreaded human contact. For the braver souls who wish to get out of the confines of their home to shop it is possible, but only essential stores are open, and only for deemed essentials as defined by the government. 

Personal protective equipment such as masks or face-shields are mandatory as is the disinfecting of hands as you walk through the doors of a store, bottles of germ killer are waiting on a table. 

Direction of travel is loudly and clearly marked on the floor to prevent possible passing persons along the aisles. One way traffic only, the way you came in is not the way you go out. Different doors for different directions. Limits such as human density per square footage of store is strictly enforced. Store workers armed with disinfectants are instructed to spray surfaces touched by human hands. Product handling is on an agreed upon ‘you touch, you buy’. 

In case you travel up the wrong aisle or have your mask inadvertently slip, you will be almost instantly reprimanded by your vigilant on-guard and concerned shopper neighbour. No slips-ups are overlooked, however slight. This is one bad virus and we must be held accountable. We are all in this together and it’s only if we all work together that we will exterminate this evil. To help with this extermination, information is vital and at our fingertips. Statistics and Big Data is our friend, keeping us on the leading edge of knowledge on this flu, especially the number of new daily infections and death tallies. We also wait breathlessly for the latest insights provided by leading doctors and specialists in their field. 

Strict restrictions restrict the number of people allowed at gatherings such as weddings and funerals, be they conducted inside or outside. Football stadiums stand empty except for the players on the field and the cameras recording them. So are Basketball courts and Hockey Arenas. But to feed the hungry souls, the games must go on.

Non-essential services are outright banned such as hair salons and barbers. Gambling casinos and churches are treated alike, with ‘Closed’ signs hanging on their respective doors.

But all is not lost, there is hope. Hope that in some laboratory somewhere an anti-viral vaccine will be born that will cure us of this threat.  A threat that has shut the world down tighter than at any time in history. The hope will be that this vaccine will be safe, and that it will not only protect us now, but make us immune forever. We rely on this vaccine to not only save us, but also our future generations, and on this cure we hope and pray. 

But wait, we are not in the clear, because there’s word of another virus on the loose. A virus schemed up back in the dawn of ages by the most evil schemer of all. This extremely contagious and all-encompassing evil virus knows no boundaries and is by far the deadliest ever recorded. It will infect all, and kill all, with a kill ratio of 100%. It carries a death sentence to not only your body, but your soul as well. 

But wait, for this virus exists a cure! This anti-dote was by no means cheap or easy to make, as it required the very life blood of the Provider. He laid down his life that you may live. This story starts on Christmas Day in Bethlehem. 

Prayer for Healing

O dear Lord and great Physician, we come to you in prayer in these troubled times with humble heart and anxious minds. 

We know not what lies before us with this Coronavirus plague, therefore we come before your throne and plea for mercy. Show us your great love and care, O Creator of all things. 

We humble ourselves before you and confess our many shortcomings. We are not worthy of your tender loving kindness towards us, for we do not live like you want your people to live. 

We are selfish and prideful, who more often worship money and self than we worship you, O great Lord. We find ourselves too often striving after the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and for our pride of life. 

It seems one day slips into the next, one week disappears into the next, then months, then years. 

We confess we have fallen greatly and have failed to grow closer to you, our Holy Father. Therefore we come to you with bended knee and beg forgiveness. Heal us from our sicknesses of sins as you healed all manners of sickness and diseases when you became flesh and walked amongst us on the earth. 

We confess we are a sick and ailing people that have strayed far from the fold. Bring us closer to thee O great Shepherd, feed and water us from thy everlasting springs and the green hills of thy steadfast love. Only then, when we are back in your fold and under your gracious hand, will your countenance shine warmly upon us, and your ear will hear our cry. 

Wash our muddied souls with the pureness of the innocent blood of thy beloved Son, and feed our starving spirits with thy daily bread. Keep us, that we stray not out of your love and care.

Look down upon us with thy great mercy. Give us strength and courage, give us insight and love. Help us be a light to the world in these troubled times, and them see our love for you, Heavenly Father, let them see how we walk in total trust as children of the Light. Let them hear us praise you, that your name might be glorified. Let the world understand that we thy people view this world and life not as an end to our means, but as a time and place where we can worship you, and show your love to all. A time and place where we can testify and shout out to all the world how great and gracious a God we serve. A God so full of love and compassion that he gave his only begotten Son that he might die for what we should have died for, who endured a most humiliating, gruesome and lonesome death, that we might live. You, O Lord, who spared not the life of your Son in the great love you have for us lowly sinners, look down upon us with compassion and mercy in this time and hear our prayers.

This we pray in the name of thy most precious and loving Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 Amen.  

High Places - in our time.

Reading Kings in the Old Testament there are many mentions of ‘High places’.

These ‘high places’ of old consisted of idols or special places on elevated ground that people worshipped or otherwise payed homage to, and got temporary satisfaction apart from God. These high places competed for and even replaced the worship that should have been reserved for the God of Israel. The high place at Dan was built when Israel was divided into the northern and southern kingdom. The northern kingdom worshipped the golden calf at Dan instead of making the trek to worship at the temple at Jerusalem. 

There was even a high place placed on one side of the gates in Jerusalem that people payed notice as they passed through. 

Although the Israelites were commanded  to utterly destroy the high places, most of them Kings kept them and even built them up. The only two that take them down were Kings Hezekiah and Josiah. 

So my thought is this, if they had these high places for many generations and God was obviously displeased, why did the Israelites display such a casual attitude towards them and what can we learn from them? 

I’m sure there are many high places set up in our lives today that we have come used or accustomed to, much like those that existed in ancient Israel. 

Places, things or idols that temporarily satisfy us along the way and hinder us from finding God. 

 There are also many other high places. Think of escapism through the news, novels and movies. And music, especially music. It seems the whole world has to have the constant barrage of music in their ears. Music is praise in itself and if not directed to God, worships whatever the songwriter had in mind.

If our heart is the temple of the most high God, then high places can be anything that competes with God for time, attention or worship in that temple.

I challenge you to think what the high places are in our life and time. What satisfies us that keeps us from searching ultimate satisfaction  in God?