Radio Silence

 First, an apology. I did not mean to go silent for seven months.

A few weeks after my last blog post, we entered the world of SARS-CoV2-19, more commonly known as COVID-19 or the coronavirus. For reasons of confidentiality, I can't say much about the specifics of what's been going on at my job as a chaplain on a senior-living campus. I can say that it wasn't long that, in accordance with the guidelines of the state synod and national denomination, the small church where I serve as pastor stopped meeting in person.(It has resumed, heavily modified, for about 10 people each week.) I continue to record YouTube videos of worship each week, which can be found by searching the YouTube site - leave a comment or contact me for the specifics.

So that's what I've been up to. But my blog, rather like a child that has left the nest, has been on my heart and on my mind, and I've always meant to continue.

Yesterday was an interesting day on a couple of fronts. At the beginning of the day, my plans for my day off got upended - which happens - and then it went south. I received some distressing news from one of the niblets (who is really too grown to be called a niblet any more, being nearly 26) as well as a note from a loved one with a trace of melancholy in the tone.

At the end of the day, though, a phone visit with the same loved one healed, restored, and reminded me of what I sometimes lose sight of. 

Despair is never the last word.

Death - and the black hole of despair - no longer have ultimate power over us, and have not because of God's gift to us in Jesus the Christ.

We are made to live in relationship. And relationship, which can feed the flames of distress and destruction, is also meant to be the force that draws us toward one another, and ultimately toward God.