Living in the Spirit

September 6, 2021

Scripture Reading:
Proverbs 1:20-33
Wisdom cries out in the street;
   in the squares she raises her voice.
At the busiest corner she cries out;
   at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
‘How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
   and fools hate knowledge?
Give heed to my reproof;
I will pour out my thoughts to you;
   I will make my words known to you.
Because I have called and you refused,
   have stretched out my hand and no one heeded,
and because you have ignored all my counsel
   and would have none of my reproof,

I also will laugh at your calamity;
   I will mock when panic strikes you,
when panic strikes you like a storm,
   and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
   when distress and anguish come upon you. –Proverbs 1:20-27

There is something very chilling in our country about the division surrounding precautions to reduce the spread of a deadly virus. There seems to be an emptiness in people’s lives that they are trying to fill by demanding rights that are not in their best interest.  Wearing masks has nothing to do with the type or quality of education. It has to do with health and safety. If the city notified a school that the water in their system was contaminated with e coli, everything possible would be done to assure that children did not contact the water. Schools must meet the standards for fire safety and are routinely inspected to ensure that they comply. Strick health and safety requirements guide the preparation of food. So why is protecting children and school staff from a virus different?

Our politics have become our gods. While we try to weave the one true God into the framework of our politics, we are failing. I do not think the Lord appreciates being used as a pawn for politicians to garner more support, and I am sure we will account for it at some point.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us for drifting so far afield from your plan for us that we claim our ways are your ways. Turn us around and show us how to love our way out of this quagmire. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.