I Miss the 1980s
Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God’s sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4-5)
I miss the ‘80s. Now, that is easier to say because I am a white male, but I miss being able to talk to children. Now, if an adult approaches a child, it is automatically considered creepy. In the ‘80s you could learn a child’s name, talk, and even play peek and it was all considered natural. Perhaps out of necessity, we’ve taught our children to fear strangers from the earliest age.
Even six months ago we could stand beside each other, shake hands, and even have a conversation. Now, we cannot touch hands, or even breathe each other’s air without fearing a deadly virus. Our Deacons must resort to the phone, computer, or standing under a balcony, just to make contact with the person she/he provides care.
We can pine for the 1980s, but that will not change our present circumstances. Our children were not as safe in the ‘80s as we thought. We now live with the Coronavirus and complaining or ignoring it will not make it go away. Throughout the Bible, God has regularly forced the faithful to face reality. Jesus had to sit in the upper room and inform them of his impending suffering and death. Their first response was denial. He would not let them remain in their denial.
You and I are no longer in the 1980s. I had to stop visiting with children in the grocery store, and we both need to face this pandemic. Putting on a mask is a sacrament. One of the definitions of a sacrament is “a ritual regarded as imparting divine grace.” Wearing a mask during this pandemic is a ritual of mutual respect, imparting divine grace by showing love and respect for others by keeping them safe. Today, pray for our society, that each person will honor God by wearing a mask. What a little thing, but what a powerful difference.
