Rector's Note: Jesus Needed on Aisle 5

Dear Saints,

This last week, I experienced an unusual succession of events. In two different public places, just days apart, I saw customers yelling at the employees. It was over events the employees clearly weren’t in control of, and the reaction seemed disproportionate to the offense, but both instances were sad to watch.

As things are opening back up, it seems that people are going in expecting the life they knew before the pandemic: items to be stocked, stores and restaurants to be well staffed, and so many other things we never used to think twice about. But, as many of us have probably also experienced, things are not the same. Supply chains are delayed. There is a shortage of workers. Businesses, and even organizations like our church, are catching up with all the changes as they try to get back. And as smooth as we would like these transitions to be, many of the factors are not in our control.

The Apostle Paul wrote, “Give thanks in all circumstances.” Perhaps what we can give thanks for in this confusing and disorienting time is the opportunity to share our faith in action. We can intentionally go into these hurting places ready to give the love of God that is in us. We can let go of expecting things to be the way they were and instead be ready to flow with God in the moment, whatever happens. We can go out of our way to thank people, compliment them, and acknowledge the many ways that people are doing the best they can. We can do our best to imagine what Jesus would do in such situations and do our best to look and act more like him.

This Sunday, I am going to talk more about how faith helps us in the peculiar, transitional time we are in. You are all in my prayers as we continue forward and figure things out. Be assured that God is with us in this, too.

In Peace,

Andria+