‘I’ll Be Back’
‘I’ll be back’ is a catchphrase associated with Arnold Schwarzenegger, which was made famous in the 1984 science fiction film The Terminator. On June 21, 2005, it was chosen as #37 on the American Film Institute list, AFI’s 100 years…100 movie quotes.’ Google
I think that the Terminator’s noteworthy statement is applicable to our present distress. I was so encouraged, yesterday to see our pastor, Kerry, deliver a wonderful sermon, through the streaming application called, Zoom. Along with Kerry was, Kathy, who played the piano so beautifully, and Carlyn singing a song of comfort and hope. Our church service was, by and large, unchanged…and that was uplifting and grounding, at the same time.
We are all here. Yes, we are separated by social distancing…but our hearts and our spirits are united. Fear will not win!
The reports, for the last five days, from China, is that there are no new cases of the coronavirus. The pandemic has shown us that we are all members of the same family. No matter if we are rich or poor, famous or unseen, it is no respecter of persons.
Tomorrow is Mary Jane and my 42nd anniversary. I went to Kroger’s and purchased a lovely anniversary card. Our anniversary dinner, tomorrow night, will come from Hunan’s and Aaron and Jonathon and MJ and I will enjoy it…while our Black Lab, Parker, and our 16 year old Boston Terrier, Brody, look on with drools…do not worry, they always get theirs. Over the past 42 years God has rescued me from many of life’s ‘slings and arrows.’ Many times I wondered if things would work out…and what the dim light was at the end of the tunnel. I am a believer in guardian angels…and I have felt the presence of mine…on many occasions.
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We are listening to our medical professionals and following the science. Social distancing has been proven to work in slowing the spread of the virus. The more rapidly that we can flatten the curve and thus not overrun our hospitals, the faster that we can return to normal.
AS we hunker down through the worst of the pandemic and prevent the virus from spreading…then, selective businesses will begin to reopen…which is vital to the economic well-being of our fellow citizens. We will, be back…it is up to us how quickly that we want to return.
‘…His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping my endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.’ Psalms 30:5. NKJV
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Letters From Home
The directive was simple and straightforward. Stay in your homes from 5:00p.m. Saturday, until April the 7th. The Governor’s order allowed for doctor and pharmacy visits, and visits to the grocery store and walking, running, and hiking.
Kroger’s supermarket was full of people. The bathroom tissue aisles shelves were empty, as well as many others. A note in the bread department admonished the customers to take no more than three bread products and there were three Kroger Wheat Cracker boxes left. We took one.
A few people were wearing surgical masks and one gentleman had a respirator. People were attempting to obey the social distancing guidelines…but with the good manners of the midwesterners, they did not make a big thing of it.
During our Campus walk, Jonathon and I noticed the dark and foreboding clouds that surrounded us. Their appearance gave a feeling of a tangible substance that could be molded in the manner that my old childhood toy, Play Dough, could be formed. We saw one of two people…at a distance. There was a chill in the air.
I read that McDonalds is going to provide two children’s meals for each adult meal that they sell. Schnucks supermarket is opening an hour, from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., for senior citizens to shop, before the general public is admitted. Our pastor and several wonderful people are working hard to provide our church congregation with a live streamed morning worship service, tomorrow.
Marta telephoned MJ and inquired as to how she was doing. MJ was greatly encouraged by a call from her friend.
My brother, Brock, texted me and wanted to know how we were doing. It is always good to hear from Brock.
My friend and Session colleague, Rob, continues to compliment my photography efforts. I regularly tell him that he is too kind…and he assures me that he is not…but that he is simply stating fact. After his kind remarks…I go out and snap a few more pics!
I watched, with gratefulness, Rev. Laurie Fields, who was our youth minister for several years, as she gave, morning prayers via the internet, and I admired what a good work that she is doing. Laurie is now the pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg, Illinois.
Many times the, seemingly, smallest of acts or kindnesses, make my day. I often do not see God in the earthquake or the fire or the wind…but in the still small voice. ‘Then he said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.’ And behold the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.’
‘So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, ‘What are you doing here Elijah?’ I Kings 19: 11-13 NKJV
When I see people who are uncertain of what the road ahead is like, and who are frightened and who are suffering…reach out to their brothers and sisters to alleviate their pain and lighten the load that they are carrying…I hear the still small voice.
As our walk was concluding, the most lovely sunshine began breaking through the clouds…
‘Cause I’d Rather Daydream My Days Away
A tremendous blog from Jonathon Brooks!
Hope changes our views of the world and the world itself. It takes courage to have hope! Hope takes moxie. It calls for a positive attitude and perseverance. In our life stories we are offered the choice to shine light or to cower in darkness. I stopped living in fear long ago. Hope offered me light and a way away from darkness and fear. Pessimism can take the next one way ticket to anywhere but my place. Courage to rebel against myself and the crowd and the noise and my own folly and all that would harm me is a virtue I’ve been practicing all of my adult life. It hasn’t always been easy, but it has always been rewarding.
I encourage you to persevere in hope now and always. If you are in the habit of praying then keep the prayers coming through the sunshine and the storms. If…
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Peace In Our 2020 Storm
Peace In Our 2020 Storm
Mary Jane told me this morning that she had received the nicest email from our friend, Ro. As she shared the kind note with me, my heart was made light and I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. The efficacy of a few well placed words can make an important difference in your perception of the storm clouds.
Heroes are all around us. Our nurses and doctors are the front lines of our defense against the coronavirus. They deserve our admiration…and they, especially, deserve all of the Personal Protective Equipment that they need. They are mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers and sons and daughters. They are risking their lives to help the rest of us.
I spent my career in custodial services at Southern Illinois University @ Carbondale. I quickly discovered that the precious members of the Building Services staff were not only vital…
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Love Conquers Pandemic
We do not have to look far for an account of fear or panic or greed surrounding the current pandemic. However, the more that I look, the more love that I witness. Jonathon and I attended our Session meeting, earlier this week, and I was overwhelmed with the love and concern that each member of the group had for their fellow church members. They had to make some difficult decisions, due to the Coronavirus, and they did so with only the health and well being and, continued spiritual growth of their brothers and sisters in mind.
I read, with much sorrow, that our friends at S and B’s Burger Joint, that is housed in the mall here in Carbondale, are out of work. Nikki wrote of her love for her colleagues and the camaraderie that they shared. She always made Aaron and Jonathon and Mary Jane and I, so welcome and at home, with her charismatic personality and kindness. We must step up and help our waitresses and waiters in this time of economic devastation, that they are experiencing.
I was proceeding to the check-out line at Kroger’s Supermarket when a lady, who did not appear to be much younger than I, invited me to go before her and in turn did the same for the gentleman that was behind me. She did not have an abundance of groceries…she had love.
Italy has been devastated by COVID-19. This morning I rejoiced when I saw a photo of two men on their separate balconies and one was reaching over with his coffee pot to pour the other person, a cup of coffee into his waiting mug.
We are separated, for a short while, by health necessity…but we are united in our love for our human family.
‘Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does. not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
‘Love never fails…’ I Corinthians 13: 4-8. NKJV
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Sad Eyes
A meditation for our time.
Fear is a terrible and mind numbing force. Fear leads to panic which leads to irrational emotions and actions. I had been reading, on social media, that there was a shortage of toilet paper at stores throughout the country. I thought that it was a joke. Yes we are in the beginning of a pandemic…but toilet paper? What about beans, or peanut butter, or coffee, or flour…or rib eye steaks? Today, Jonathon and I traveled to our nearest Sam’s Box store and discovered that, indeed they did not have a square of toilet paper. Also there were displayed many empty areas in the massive freezers sections illustrating a general run on food…and especially…paper! I engaged in the great toilet paper search last evening. As I walked the aisle of our local Wal-Mart I saw the barest shelfs that I had ever seen. I asked a friend who was working in…
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Preparedness Dissipates Fear And Calms Panic
I am 62 years old, and I have not witnessed a pandemic the scope of COVID – 19. World wide there are currently documented; 134,235 Coronavirus cases. Of the virus cases there are 4,965 deaths. Thus far, 68,898 have recovered.
All of us live in our own little bubble. We know and are close to what our friends and family and colleagues, tell us. Perhaps we have no, current, illness or discomfort…now. Some of our friends tell us that COVID – 19 is overblown. Others assure us that it is a political plot. While many more are certain that the virus could be no worse than a bad case of the flu, and that they have lived through more than one case of this type of illness.
I would point to the famous and political leaders who have already tested positive for the virus. These are people from both political parties.
Within the past 24 hours we have witnessed many more bold measures regarding, social distancing. All problems and illnesses and catastrophes are not real to us…until it is us…or our loved ones. ‘A former Homeland Security adviser, Tom Bossert, warned that the US is just over a week away from the nation’s hospitals ‘getting creamed’ by the rapidly spreading coronavirus.’ New York Post
Italy is currently triaging patients for eligibility for treatment according to who physicians believe have the best chance of surviving.
Yes, COVID – 19 will finally become normalized. Medical professionals tell us that once 40% of humanity contracts the disease there will develop a ‘herd immunity.’
The markets are falling off a cliff, daily, due to the absence of a coherent plan to deal with a concrete…invisible…reality.
Now is the time for all of our political leaders to, ‘beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks,’
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‘And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.’ (Isaiah 2:4)
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‘The Lend-Lease policy, formally titled An Act to Promote the Defense of the United States, was a program under which the United States supplied the United Kingdom, Free France, the Republic of China, and later the Soviet Union and other Allied nations with food, oil, and material between 1941 and August 1945.’ Wikipedia
We need a plan that is as bold as the Lend-Lease policy to equip our hospitals and medical professionals with the equipment, such as ventilators and beds and rooms for the beds, to facilitate, not only the current health crisis, but the next one that will certainly come our way.
It is amazing the progress that can be accomplished when we do not care who gets the credit.
The Writer’s Club — The Jazz Man
The sun was shinning brilliantly. The birds were twittering and the pond was placid and serene. Billy B. had walked campus this morning and had not seen a soul. He had felt, lonely. During his stroll, Billy Bump had not observed anything frightening, but rather an insidious beauty and preparedness for the serious job of […]
The Fragility of Expectations/The Strength of Hope
There are many uncertainties in this life. We roll along through our days and believe that our many plans for the future will be realized. Wether it is the next job promotion or a new home or this years, dream vacation…we are relatively certain that if we work hard and play by the rules that we will achieve our plans.
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I began life in Chicago, Illinois in a happy, ‘Leave It To Beaver,’ type existence. My mother enjoyed dancing to, Chubby Checker’s, latest song, The Twist. My dad would place me on his shoulders, when he arrived home from work…and I thought that I was the king of the world. Little did I realize that in a short time, we would be moving to Eldorado, Illinois and we would be living in a ghost house that had a fireplace in each room…and a rat in the bathtub. Soon mom and dad were divorced and mom did not have the twenty cents per day for me to enjoy a hot lunch at school. I was the only person in class that brought my lunch. As the years went by I decided that I was going to hope for something better and work toward that goal.
My good friend, Jeff, was a homeless orphan on the streets of Chicago. When I met him he was part of a commune of hippies living in Elkville, Illinois. Jeff had nothing and no one…but he had hope for a better life. Jeff had come from a loving home, but economic reversals and emotional stresses had dissolved his childhood abode. Jeff, along with the other, Jewish hippies, began attending our little non-denominational church in Elkville. I personally witnessed the strength of hope in Jeff’s life. Jeff has been a successful businessman for many years and owns his own business in the United Kingdom. It was my pleasure, in 2016, to attend one of his opportunity meetings…where he spoke to a room of 100 people who were hungry for the same hope that had transformed Jeff…nearly 50 years ago. As I observed the attentive audience, as Jeff spoke to them, I saw my friend of 50 years…and marveled at the strength of hope!
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We saw the great movie, The Invisible Man, recently. Fighting an adversary that you cannot see…is scary. It is vital that we follow all precautions that are suggested by our health experts. It is essential that we do not yield to…magical thinking…or some of the untruths that are being promulgated by leaders who should no better. But, it is essential and vital that we do not give over to panic. Our world has suffered pandemics before…and there will be others after COVID19.
‘So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is…fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.’ President Franklin D. Roosevelt
The renown PBS star of many decades, Mr. Rodgers, told us what to do when we are facing a frightening time that is filled with both seen and unseen adversaries: ‘When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’
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The Happy Traveler 