Sermonette for Jan. 21, 2019

ALERT! Quarantine mode: separate toothbrushes, separate blankets, Lysol doorknobs and light switches every morning, noon and before bed. Gatorade...check, BRAT diet...check. Constant laundry. “Don’t go near him! In fact, don’t even look at him.” Batten down the hatches.

Please God, don’t let me catch this.

See, not only do we have the stomach virus, we’re also on vacation. It’s 65 degrees outside. There’s a heated pool out there. And palm trees. Heck, I may even enjoy some exercise in this weather. Maybe. But instead, I’m fixated on a young boy, using cat-like reflexes to catch what could be a big mess.

In the line of sight from my perch, on the wall of our virus-bathed townhouse reads a sign: “There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.”

*Sigh.* Often, my cynicism wins. What on earth could I be thankful for right now? But of course that sign is correct. And so I do. I physically write down that for which I am thankful, and the world around me begins to look a little brighter.

My mom’s always told me in the middle of the storms in my life, “thank God for this.” Or Paul, who said, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

I want to be clear, this is different from “everything happening for a reason.” When we assume or presume to know why bad things happen, we are putting our faith in ourselves more than in God. When we thank God for whatever is happening, good or bad, we are humbling ourselves, not needing an answer, allowing God to answer. And God’s answer is always love.

I am grateful that I don’t need to figure out where the virus started, how it was passed onto this person and not that person, what I could have or should have done to prevent it, or why it’s affecting someone differently than another. (I drive myself crazy with these unanswerable questions!) When I can humble myself, and say “I don’t know,” I am open to receiving God’s unconditional love.

In this posture of humility, admitting we don’t know, thanking God in all circumstances, and receiving God’s boundless love, we can make room for intentional change, if needed. We can be honest and not defensive. We can forgive others as Christ has first forgiven us. All glory be to God.