Waiting and Trusting

Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I shall fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me. -Psalm 23

In this blog last week I talked about how we memorized the ten commandments back when I was in Sunday school. Well, we also memorized the 23rd Psalm. It is one of the most familiar pieces of scripture, and is often read at funerals to assure those who are grieving that they are not alone. The classic words, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,” acknowledges the pain of this life and the need to rely on the strength of God to get us through.

Here in October of 2020, we are collectively grieving. The pandemic has taken much from us. So many of our usual routines have been disrupted. Our relationships have been put at a distance, family gatherings disrupted. Our workplaces, schools and local businesses have strange, new protocols. Our church life has been turned upside down. On top of all the pandemic related problems, the current political climate is producing a great deal of anxiety and division. Severe weather events and fires have given these times a decidedly apocalyptic flavor. There is much to collectively grieve and lament in this traumatic time in history.

As Americans, we are not taught to lament. No, we’re taught to pick ourselves up by our own bootstraps and solve problems. We’re simply not good at feeling powerless and lamenting the trauma we feel. We are not used to walking through the valley of the shadow of death as a collective body. And we are not used to recognizing that we have no power within ourselves to help ourselves, as one of our fall collects said.

Nonetheless, our faith tells us to fear no evil. That god’s strength will protect us. That God’s abundance is still with us. That God will give us relief. Can we trust that? Even in the valley of the shadow of death?

In the midst of our lament, we have found some unexpected gifts, and I’m sure most of us could name a few that we have received. Maybe it was an unexpected kindness from someone, or a new chance to connect that you hadn’t expected. Maybe it was time to focus on a long neglected topic or activity. Through having been stripped of our usual habits and routines, we’ve been given the chance to re-prioritize our lives. We’ve been given the opportunity to re-evaluate what is most important. We’ve been given an opening to deepen in faith and to lean more deeply into the elusive hope of God that cannot yet be seen.

Derek and I were discussing possible plans for Advent and Christmas yesterday. With all the limitations of the pandemic, what on earth will Christmas look like this year? Even if we are able to gather indoors, only 20-25 individuals, couples or families can be in the church, there will be no congregational singing of the beloved Christmas carols, no passing of the peace. Even if we can get back in the building, Covid has stolen our beloved Christmas traditions already.

And yet - each year we talk about making Advent a quiet season of preparation as we bemoan our hectic schedules of party-going, gift buying, decorating and running around like crazy people. Maybe an unexpected gift this year is that we can work on putting our faith first during this quiet season, just as we always profess wanting to do. Maybe this year, we can really focus on what is most important, praying and practicing our faith at home more intentionally.

I know it’s early to be bringing up Advent and Christmas, but I know it is on your mind and in your heart. We may still be fully online this winter, time will tell. But even if we are not gathering in the building, we will still be gathering together, and we will still wait together during the increasingly short days of late fall and winter, and Christ will enter the world anew once again.

This Sunday’s readings are HERE. Ordinary time offers many readings to contemplate each Sunday. Track 1 will lead you through certain Old Testament books week by week more in depth. Track 2 provides an Old Testament text that is meant to compliment the Gospel of the week.