The summer of 2020. How will we remember it? Will we remember day after day of clear blue skies and bright sunshine? Will we remember the warmth we long for during the cold and snowy months of the year? Will we remember the time we spent perhaps trying new recipes, cooking and baking at home? Will we remember neighbourhood walks, saying hello from a distance to those with whom we could not gather – perhaps saying hello to a neighbour for the first time? Will we remember the thought of being united around the globe, all of us dealing with the same challenge? Will we remember the creativity of teachers, workers, children, parents, worship leaders, youtubers, Facebook friends, Zoom meeting hosts and so many more? Will we remember with gratitude those who continued to work in hospitals, in grocery stores, making deliveries, and responding to emergencies – all those who continued to work through this strange time so that our needs would be met?
There is no doubt that this has been a challenging spring and summer. Many have suffered loss; many have been faced with loneliness and anxiety. Many have longed to see people they found themselves isolated from. Many longed to be able to come together to worship again. At the same time so many, seeing a need, stepped up and helped when and where they could. The smallest gesture carried such great empathy and kindness. Around the neighbourhood where I walk in the mornings, there were encouraging messages written on bricks and left along the sidewalk for people to see. Chalk messages of hope and courage were left on sidewalks. Signs of gratitude for those who continued to work were everywhere in windows, on lawns, and suggested in the blue ribbons tied around the trees. Can we remember these seasons of Covid as one that brought us together in so many ways; that made us realize how little we need and how much we have to be grateful for? It has been challenging; it has been difficult. But when we come through this time together, I pray that we come away from it remembering our courage, our creativity, and our efforts to face this challenge together with our faith and our hope strengthened.
God bless you all.