Has anyone else found their lives to be a bit chaotic lately? I mean, I only have one kid at home, and she's pretty independent. And as a pastor's wife, my "work schedule" hasn't shifted that much. And I live in a small country town where the streets are almost empty during the day. Chandler on lockdown looks a lot like Chandler at normal times.
And yet, in spite of that, everything feels different. There are restrictions, which means we have to work around those restrictions to do our normal duties. Nothing is convenient. Local commerce seems to be in danger. Everything seems to require twice as much thought as it used to. Even a normal head cold has to be checked against the CDC website to make sure it is nothing more than a head cold, and it's hard to know the best way to serve our families, our neighbors, and our communities.
I think the word that most people would use to describe these last few weeks (and the next few weeks) would be uncertainty. I don't think anyone is certain of much right now, and the more certain people sound, the less I am inclined to trust their opinions.
So what does Christmas have to say to all this?
I know that a lot of you are experiencing spring. We have two inches of fresh snow at the moment, so it at least "looks like" Christmas here for the time being, but last week the farmers got some planting in. This is not a time when people think about Christmas as it is stereotyped. Only the most die-hard Christmas folk were gift shopping before self-isolation drove them in to use Amazon, and summer vacation is the next big event to plan. But there is something that right now does have in common with Christmas:
Upheaval and uncertainty.
Picture it. Thousands of people all over the Roman world were commanded, not to shelter in place, but to get up and go be counted. They had to shutter their homes and businesses, disrupt local economies, deal with temporary labor shortages, pack enough food for a journey, and probably endure unscrupulous entrepreneurs. People on the leaving end of the journey would have to prepare for a long absence, and people on the receiving end of the journey would have to prepare for a large influx of people. Hoarding was probably an issue. There was significant government presence, for good or for ill, and most likely plenty of opinions, information, and misinformation about the government’s intentions. People are people. Above all, there was inconvenience and people responding to inconvenience in their various ways.
The original Christmas time probably looked a lot like the novel CoronaVirus. People were not settling down for a long winter’s nap. They were not relaxing for a couple of extra days around a national holiday. They were not watching breathlessly for a divine beacon of hope and grace. They were more likely racing around serving the extra people in their homes, grumbling at the government, getting the supplies that they needed by hook or by crook, and dealing with all the little emergencies that seem so much worse because the framework of normal life isn’t there. Is it any wonder that Jesus ended up being born in a stable?
It was in real life like this that Jesus chose to make his appearance. The Gospel is not averse to chaos. Confusion is not a sign that God has abandoned us. Sometimes it’s just a sign that life is moving forward on a grand scale.
Is there an overall plan or reason behind the CoronaVirus? Well, it’s not going to bring about the redemption of the world. And the overall reasoning hasn't been revealed to me, so don’t expect an overarching explanation.
Two things I know:
God is still in control, and He doesn’t just control the situation. He also guides us in the best ways to deal with the situation.
Says St. James, “If any of you needs wisdom,” Don’t we all in this situation?
“If any of you needs wisdom, that person should ask God.” That person is you because this situation is new. Go ask.
“Ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault.” There is no reason not to. He knows that if we are asking for wisdom, we are trying to mature in the situation He has given us. This is a good thing. Maturing is exactly what He wants for us.
“And it will be given to you.” Expect to be answered, because like the coffee that we ordered last week which arrived this morning, it will be there when you need it. In fact, it might have been dropped off right outside your door.
Also, God is involved. God is here with us. God came to ride the waves of uncertainty as an infant. Emmanuel means that we are not alone. So don’t live as if you are alone, even if you are in quarantine. Trust that there is meaning in this. Hope and pray that it will pass quickly. And rest in the presence of God. He is with you. "Cast all your worries on God because He cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7)
