Blessed Are You

The pandemic presents a rare opportunity. When we encounter empty shelves and our hearts bend toward anger, we can choose instead to offer a prayer for those who live the reality of food scarcity every single day. Socialist regimes, broken governments, warlords, gangs all create this same reality everyday for other human beings in the world. Third world countries without farming, supply chains or even shelves to be emptied or filled for that matter are harsh realities. Neighbors in our own subdivisions and community rely on food banks to put food on the tables before their children. For most of us food and the ability to get food, is a foregone conclusion. But right now in our own uncertainty we can align our hearts and prayers with those who understand it better than we ever will. For us this will be temporary. For them, this is just life. I have personally experienced limited access to food, medicine and necessities, courtesy of Katrina. Having your freedom restricted with a curfew or other restrictions is incredibly frustrating. When we are so accustomed to our liberty we feel it when it's infringed upon. But in these days we can consider those who pass through checkpoints as part of their travel. We are concerned with a virus lurking on a lunch counter or credit card reader but others look for roadside explosives and terrorists. Christians are kidnapped, people are trafficked. What do we believe? What is fear mongering? Propaganda? Can we trust the news? The government? People are talking about the very things that citizens in Communist China, North Korea and Iran have as their real world. Our Churches have canceled services. We can't gather openly. We will not sing hymns, or raise our hands to worship God and we don't know when we will again. Unlike Christians living underground and in secret for all these centuries who lived in fear and oppression unable to exercise their faith we know that there will be an end, even if it's not in sight at this moment. If we get sick can we get the care we need? Not, can we afford it? Will it exist? Will there be a bed? A ventilator? Will we make the cut to receive care? Does the healthcare even exist that we need? This is a terrifying reality. But it's not unheard of, it's normal in parts of the world that most of us will never see. My soul feels afraid. I hear voices telling me we are not to be afraid and I know the scriptures that are my rock. I think there is a difference between "being" afraid and "feeling" afraid. It's okay to experience a feeling. It's another thing altogether to rest in it. Wrap ourselves in it, surrender to it. What is happening IS scary. I am determined to allow myself to feel the fear that my brothers and sisters around the world have always experienced. What they will continue to live with long after the restrictions to my daily life are gone. I will feel it and allow it to inform me, influence me. Where the enemy seeks to sow fear in my soul I will instead grow compassion. Where the enemy seeks to isolate me, I will reach out to my neighbor. At every turn and every challenge this pandemic presents, I will meet it with prayer. I will recognize in it that I am so blessed. In all things, in abundance and shortage, I am blessed. We have a unique opportunity to live out the Beatitudes. To choose to remain rooted in the truth that we are blessed. Not an American ideal of blessed. One where we aren't sick, never suffer and don't know want. But a biblical blessed. It is in our suffering that we are most intimately connected to the suffering of Christ. In our pain that we can begin to see God in others and think less of ourselves. Adversity comes. Who we are is revealed in it. Let it transform us. Let it give us a heart of flesh and blood. Let it inspire us to love, peace and good works. Matthew 5: 3-12

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.