Pastoral Thought--July 21

As I am watching the rain, and enjoying how it continues to come from the heavens long after I figured it would stop, I find my mind naturally drift toward either covid-19, and all that is involved with this pandemic  or, what the future of our world/country look like in a more general sense. Back and forth my mind goes like a pendulum that seems to never find peace. 

I met a gentleman today who plays in a worship band at his local baptist church. This church has been able to meet, as we have at Plains, for some time in person. I could see a sense of contentment in his eyes. He was comforted and blessed by his faith and work in worship  . . But there was something else there to consider, if I looked. 

As we talked more he opened up. He said that the bass player of their worship band succumbed to covid-19 recently. The bass player was a young guy too. He stood in silence for a second looking at the ground through his blue homemade mask.

He went on to say that his church has a lot of anxiety right now. They don't know what to do; he doesn’t know what to do, or even how to begin mourning. The church believes what they are doing is helpful, but. . . fill in your own blank. Our conversation only lasted about 2 minutes. I had to get moving. But from that short encounter I could see that his mind was conflicted. Perhaps he is not the only one in our community who struggles in this time with how to live as a Christian??

Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica, who was a Serbian Orthodox Elder and writer, wrote in his book, Our Thoughts Determine Our Lives: 

“Our life depends on the kind of thoughts we nurture. If our thoughts are peaceful, calm, meek, and kind, then that is what our life is like. If our attention is turned to the circumstances in which we live, we are drawn into a whirlpool of thoughts and can have neither peace nor tranquility.” 

When we think about what Elder Thaddeus’ words it is important to notice that he is not saying we should not practice an indifferent mind and “don't worry be happy." Instead, even in the most conflicted situation, the ones we feel out of control with and in, perhaps how we engage those moments is impacted in how we practice of faith in Christ. Perhaps the frustration that you are feeling with covid-19 has gotten the better of you from time to time. If that is so, I wonder how Elder Thaddeus’ words could help reorient your mind today? 

Maybe if I delayed a bit longer with this young man something positive and helpful could have grown. I wonder how things could have gone differently. 

Blessings

Rev. Derek