Thursday, April 2, 2020

Down time, airplane mode, whatever it takes.

Matthew 11:28

     "Come to me, all of you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest".

       It was a 3 hour flight from our Island retreat to the glitz and glamour that beckoned outside McCarran Airport. My husband turned off 'airplane mode' and was immediately struck by pings and alerts. There were so many e-mails and phone messages awaiting.  One person had left at least a dozen messages in that 3 hour window. Hello!!?? Are you there? This is a real estate emergency!!!!

       In my husbands line of work, people have an expectation of immediate gratification or they will seek out the next professional in ther line of sight. It seems everyone actually wants to be tethered 24/7 to their phones and the world.

       How interesting it is now that so many of the entire world are quarantined to their homes.  I myself posted  a meme on facebook about preparing a large batch of cocktails for this evening. Well, let's make that for lunch, say 10:30 am? Times are tough indeed. And yet, we are all seemingly still tethered to the outside world by social media and the telephone. I suppose if you 'turned yourself off' or turned on airplane mode for longer than an hour, people might call 911 to have someone come and check on you. Did they succumb to the virus? How come they aren't answering their phone? I know they are home.

       One of the unique features about this year that people have not experienced in generations is that public services and the communal celebration of Easter has essentially been cancelled. There will be no Easter service, not even with fist bumps or people spaced 6-8 feet apart in church. There will be no Easter egg hunts and no shopping for Easter outfits or even Easter bonnet, no Easter Lamb with the fixin's and family. We are stuck at home. Sadly, we are not taking any of our 'down time' to disconnect from the world and reconnect with God.

        This morning, with all sorts of recreational activities here at home cancelled, no pickleball, no tennis, no pool, no golf or gym,  we will be try to find some exercise and relief from containment by going on a bike ride around the community. We can easily get in 10 miles which is a pleasant jaunt among the water, palms and alligators.

        I am acutely aware of the problems the world is in. The problems cannot help but intervene in our lives as we are hunkered down only to hear of who died of the Covid-19 virus or say silent prayers for those loved ones on the front lines of care. How about we take some solid time for real prayer ad some quality down time. I mean, let's put our lives on airplane mode. What gift have we be graced with, by whatever horror we are truly experiencing it, we can now truly be silent and pray to God. Thank you for your Son. Thank you for your peace and unending love.

         All we need do is stop and listen; stop and ask.  For downtime and airplane mode, I give thanks and pray.

     

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