Hope-Filled in a Time of Distress

It was a hot, summer afternoon and I was wrapping up yard work when I looked up and saw that several piles of pine straw had collected on the roof of the house. I found the ladder, braced it against the roof in the rear of the house and climbed with a broom in hand. This was before lawn blowers were developed and available to the public.

It has always been an oddity that heights bother me when I’m on land whereas when I was at sea on aircraft carriers and cruisers in my active duty years, I seemed to be okay. As a child, I loved to climb tall trees. I couldn’t resist. I remember getting to the top, however, looking down and wondering, “What did I do this for?”

Every step I took on that hot, summer afternoon, I was mindful of where I was, always aware of what I might do if I happened to slip. What would I do to brace myself and where might be the best place to land. It’s amazing what you can see in your neighborhood from a rooftop. When I finally got to work I’d take a swipe at the pine straw until I was able to make a neat pile close enough to the edge than I would sit down, inch myself as close to the pile as I could and then push it over the side. It always gave me the weirdest sensation and I was always thankful to make my way back safely to ground level. I have a lot of respect for people who can climb ladders and trees, and dangle at the top as the breeze swings you back and forth.

Well, on this hot, summer afternoon I was almost done sweeping when I looked up and saw what appeared to be a thunderstorm rolling in from the northwest. Before I knew it there was thunder and lightning. I picked up the pace when all of a sudden a strong wind blew the ladder from the side of the house. There was more thunder and lightning, and then a driving rain. The problem was nobody was around to see me stranded. I started jumping up and down as hard as I could calling the names of Kay! Lillian! Liesle! Laura! Sam!

More thunder and lightning. More wind and driving rain. I noticed two cars driving by with children sitting in the back seat pointing to a stranger jumping up and down on a rooftop during a thunderstorm. Kay! Lillian! Liesle! Laura! Sam! Drenched, out of breath, praying that I wouldn’t serve as a lightning rod in the Mossy Oaks neighborhood, I think it was Kay who finally came outside after the storm to find me. She and the girls found the ladder in the backyard and I climbed down to safety. While I was dancing in raindrops to the rhythm of thunder, I learned that Kay and the girls had been relaxing in the living room immersed in a popular soap opera. I don’t remember where Sam was. It didn’t matter much at the time. I was happy to be back on land!

Moral of the story? Don’t ever assume that people always know where you are (especially when they’re watching soap operas!)

I’ve lost track of the weeks we have been separated because of the coronavirus. As efforts are made to re-open the economy, the Governor has stated his appreciation for churches remaining closed. The gathering of large groups of people in a single space can be problematic especially when there are folks who may be asymptomatic and folks who have to be especially careful because of underlying physical issues.

There is a part of me that would like to jump up and down like I did on a hot, summer afternoon on a rooftop in the middle of a thunderstorm in order to get God’s attention, vent my frustration and demand that things get back to normal as soon as possible. Truth is, it wouldn’t serve a good purpose. Patience, they say, is a virtue. I still find the prayer of Reinhold Niebuhr written at the last minute on a tiny sheet of paper to be quite useful, “Lord, grant me the courage to change the things I can, the peace to accept the things I cannot change, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

Until such time we are able to safely gather as a community of faith, the wisdom of Dietrich Bonhoeffer comes into play. Bonhoeffer recommended the following advice when we face the task of making important decisions. 1. Always use care to visit, talk and listen to other people in order to gain the insight of their thoughts and opinions. 2. Never make a decision in a hurry. 3. Unless there is overwhelming evidence to do otherwise, the status quo always holds.

So, this is what we’re going to do. We are going to be hope-filled in a time of distress, extend compassion to the suffering when and where we can, and pray for the healing of the world. We are going to follow the guidance of our public health officials, medical professionals and health care givers, civic leaders and government agencies. We shall refrain from neglecting the potential danger of a storm that has not yet subsided, Jumping up and down in frustration will get us nowhere. Let us seek to remain vigilant as we pray together –

“O God, help us in this time of calamity to trust your mercy, which never ends. Help us to trust your power, which in Jesus Christ stilled the storms, healed the sick, and provided hope for a better tomorrow. Finally, O God, help us to do our part in bringing an end to this destructive virus. In the name of your Son. Amen.” +

—
Steve Keeler, Pastor