We’ve been here before.
Oh, the terrain is a bit different and certainly some of the obstacles are new, but this isn’t exactly unfamiliar ground. We can’t gather together… that’s a bit new. We can’t bring casseroles and share hugs of comfort. We can’t sit shiva with each other or hold hands in prayer. It’s different, but it’s not new. We’ve been in this dark valley before.
This is why we’ve told the stories from one generation to the next –
Stories of Exile.
Stories of the Passover told around the family table.
Stories of the disciples in disarray and despair following the crucifixion.
Stories of the early followers of Jesus meeting together in spite of the fear of persecution.
Stories of the Great Depression.
Stories of victory gardens and air raids.
We’ve been in this dark valley before.
We respond… with courage and creativity and a new openness to being adaptive.
We respond… with a sense that we are in this together, even as we must remain physically separate.
We respond… with hope. Even though we know the worst is yet to come, we know how this story ends. Easter follows Good Friday. We’ve read the end of the Book.
Love Wins.
We’ve been in this dark valley before.
And just like before, God is with us. Our Rock and our Redeemer.
The Quirky Calvin-isht 