Pandemic

The Value of a Sparrow

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God.
Luke 12:6 ESV

Still in the grip of a pandemic after two years it is time to decide what matters most. We cannot continue as if all will return to normal. We must choose what is valuable enough to live for in spite of a risk that will never go away. Jesus tells us that, while 5 sparrows had almost no value to people, every one mattered to God. In the same way, the spiritual life of those in long term care has been undervalued during the pandemic. While their basic physical needs of food, medicine and clean clothes are filled, their hunger for the presence of family, friends and neighbors has been denied. Spiritual needs of someone to pray with or receiving communion are forgotten, though their room is still mopped and lunch is served. Of course we volunteers should be held to the same standards as those who are paid to care for physical needs of residents, but we must not give up on seeking ways to serve. Remember that when God gives us green pastures and still waters it is not without a cost. Is what we do for others worth giving our lives as well? The love of Jesus at Calvary gave value to our lives far above sparrows. How can we not do the same for our precious brothers, sisters, neighbors and friends in long term care?

Through the Great Waters

/ pastorpete51 / 4 Comments

The closing of the door to nursing home ministry during Covid reminds me of this verse. 14 months ago the doors closed to in person visitation and frankly I was unwilling to continue putting myself and others at risk. Then came long uncertain and often confusing months of terrifying statistics and our world shut down to silence.

During that time I began producing weekly videos and put out a devotional newsletter as an effort to stay connected and to bring a little cheer. These were not professionally done nevertheless the residents seemed to like them. What a joy it was today to step out of those great waters today as I began singing again for my dear friends in memory care at Sunshine Christian Home. This is the second of three facilities where we used to have services to reopen.

A few even remembered me! I say all this to encourage you to never give up on what God has given you to do or the field of service he has called you to. No great waters are too great for God! In fact God delights in making a way through impossible obstacles because just like the children of Israel we can rejoice on the other side of the sea. For the record, the first song we sang after 14 months was, This is the Day. Yes this is most certainly the day the Lord has made!

Tomorrow the third place where I used to hold services has invited me also so I’ll update you on how that goes. If anyone has been involved with ministry at Long Term Care facilities and you have questions let me know.

The Mocking Bird Still Sings

/ pastorpete51 / 8 Comments

But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord. Psalm 115:18 KJV

A few weeks ago, we paid a man to cut the tree behind our house down to a smaller and more manageable size. Because of the small space between our home and the one behind us it had to be done, but the bare and stumpy looking limbs left behind were not so wonderful to look at. My original dismay was softened considerably yesterday when I went out to sit on our back porch and saw that the mockingbird who often chose to regularly visit our tree had come back. He was not at all disturbed by the changes to our poor tree. He just flew in, perched on one of the stumps and proceeded to sing his usual song!

I do not know what has been going on in your life during the pandemic but in mine it sometimes feels as if things have been ruthlessly chopped away just like what happened with our tree. Maybe my bird friend is teaching us all that God is still God and no matter what things look like we can sing. We can bless the Lord both in good times and in bad because He is worthy of praise. Even if we must perch on the stumpy branches left in our life to sing our melody, remember that God is listening. Just as He was the God of the pruning so He will also be the God of new life and we can praise Him because our tree will one day bud again and then flower and grow forevermore!