Somehow things seem more tense now than months ago.  Perhaps because we continue to wrestle with containing Covid, for years by now.  We know more and more people who are getting infected.  In the early days of the pandemic, it was an attitude of let’s come together and isolate ourselves for a few weeks to stop the spread.  We cheered on healthcare workers.  We rang our church bell in solidarity.  Then we just had to wait until folks could get vaccinated.  Delta came onto the scene.  Now Omicron is here.  The numbers are skyrocketing of folks who are getting sick.  All while we argue with one another about, well, everything.

There was an article published in The Atlantic this week by Derek Thompson, “Why More Americans Are Saying They’re ‘Vaxxed and Done'”.  He wrote about how the Omicron wave has divided the vaccinated into two camps, the “vaxxed and done” and “vaxxed and cautious”.  The divisions we are experiencing are not just between those who are vaccinated and those who are not.  Even those who are vaccinated are divided on how best to approach individual choices and societal policies.  There’s a plethora of individual decisions we make day in and day out about situations where we may risk exposure.  But life hasn’t come to a complete standstill.  How do we navigate it all?

All of this to say, it can be exhausting.  We are divided over how to conduct ourselves in this pandemic.  Some folks are “vaxxed and done”.  Some are “vaxxed and cautious”.  Some are not vaccinated.  Or vaccinated, but not boosted.  And on and on.  I sense a lot of weariness right now.  What can keep us going?  Our faith.  Knowing that God is with us through it all.  I keep going back to the words of Jesus, shared here in case you need to hear them this week: “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NRSV) 

Love,
Pastor Lauren 

Photo by Ray Hennessy on Unsplash

Thursday Thoughts 1/13/22