Covid-19, The Church, and Getting On My Kid's Nerves As They Get On Mine
What a time we’ve found ourselves in. I don’t think the word unprecedented really covers it. I can’t help but wonder what the history books will say about this time in fifty years or so from now.
As I write this, we’ve been in this social distancing quarantine just over a month. It’s been a surreal feeling of emergency mixed with normalcy. Like most people that were having to stay home, the first ten to fourteen days felt like an extended spring break or vacation. It was kind of fun and exciting. My wife is a teacher so her and my children were among the first wave to be sent home and I, well I started working from home shortly afterwards.
Disclaimer
: this blog is just me processing or maybe even venting some and in no way is anything that I’ve learned or figured out.
So what happens when you take an extremely extrovert, Enneagram 8, albeit insecure student pastor, make him stay at his house with minimal human interaction, and then add the only way for him to shepherd his students is digitally. It's not a pretty picture, at least not at first. Throughout this I’ve very much felt like the old guy trying to remain cool on social media. (some of that is the insecurity I mentioned earlier) Full disclosure, I don't think my younger counterparts are being quite as "relevant" as they think they are. Something I learned a long time ago but I need to be reminded of often is scripture is relevant all the time whether people think it is or not.
Hillsong Worship has a song entitled New Wine. It's a powerful song of what God wants to do in and through us during tough times. The first lines of the song are; “In the crushing, in the pressing. You are making new wine.” That’s accurate for this time. This has been a time of pressing and squeezing. The problem is, I don’t’ necessarily like what’s coming out of me as I’m being squeezed. I’ve been a little more short with my family than I’d care to admit. I've been more short with other people than I care to admit. I’ve also learned that the way I deal with the uncomfortable or the stressful moments is to retreat into myself and not in a healthy way at all. It's more of a shutdown, self-preservation kind of way. My wife would say it makes me pout. She's probably right...
I’ve also learned that Jesus is wanting to create that “New Wine” in me through this situation. I have to be willing to one, step into the pressing and two, I have to submit to and be okay with the “wine” that is produced. I don’t think God created and sent this virus into our existence but I do believe that He’s using it to refocus His people, me being one of those. Throughout all of the Zoom staff meetings and small group sessions and all of the teachings into a camera and an empty room, I’ve been reminded of my role and my purpose. Despite the awkward methods, the mission of The Church and my mission is the same. For me it’s to pastor students and continually pour into them through whatever means necessary.
God is doing something, something BIG! Don’t miss Him. To quote Henry Blackaby, “See where God is working and join Him in that.” This Sunday we’re doing a song called Take Courage by Bethel. I want to leave you with these lyrics.
Take courage my heart
Stay steadfast my soul
He's in the waiting
He's in the waiting
Hold onto your hope
As your triumph unfolds
He's never failing
He's never failing
Blessings!
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on