Piecing together the puzzle of what is normal now

Weighing heavily on most of us right now are heavy concerns that are robbing some of us of the comforting sense of friendship and close family relations which are sometimes a threat to our own health and future as the pandemic still rages around this earth. This world is one huge jigsaw puzzle and we may have trouble focusing on piecing that puzzle back in a normal place. But, this week, I learned again that God provides solutions even for times like these, one manageable piece at a time. We can start to arrange all the pieces into an order that we can live with, that will bring peace and begin to restore hope and confidence, and bring us closer to God.

If you have read any of my other blogs, you know that I have had an ear to the ground during all of 2020. I personally have been laid off, not had any sustainable bites on my job applications during these months of unemployment, have family members who have had the deadly virus and known of others who have had it. I have friends, friends of friends, family of friends, who are in the hot spots for both the pandemic and the riots. I see people lining up by the hundreds to get food during giveaways. I hear about people stocking in food to carry them for months and others who are now gardening at home for the first time in their adult lives. Others are stockpiling weapons and ammunition in fear of riots in their own backyards. The obituaries are carrying pandemic deaths of people we know. Others are living as if they are totally immune or invincible, not concerned at all about transmission.

Life has changed. Many of us find these changes hard to live with and long for things to be as they were before—our previous normal. So many changes all at one time are unsettling and are heightening emotions, all kinds of emotions. Not all these are good emotions and not all these are the best or reasoned reactions. We are sometimes running scared and, more than that, we are making some snap decisions that will have long-term impacts on our lives and descendants. We may not be taking time to categorize the situations and assess all the repercussions of our decisions and actions.

Impassioned opinions sometimes result in loquacious dialog about why others should share our views and actions, and why they are being irresponsible or uncaring or totally self-centered or just plain ignorant, even why they are shaking their fists in the face of God. Accusations are being raised by one group that others are not trusting God to answer their prayers and protect them, and those in the opposing groups are tossing back that we have been admonished to not test God.

There is nothing new under the sun. Give me back my normal! God help us!

Being unemployed right now, I had the privilege of attending a mid-week Bible study this week during the daytime! This lesson revolved around how leaders in one particular church were imposing restrictions that were not necessary on new members in the time period of about two thousand years ago. This was a church that had roots already reaching back hundreds of years in Israel with loads of rules, rituals and traditions, all of which were part of the original laws for the church but which were no longer necessary. This situation was a long time ago and in a culture whose daily life was quite different than ours. Wasn’t it? Or, even though technology, air flight and electricity is our norm, it appears our emotions, relationships, morals and worship follow the same patterns.

When the church had accepted the gift of Jesus as Son of God, some rituals and practices presented hindrances instead of welcome to the church institutions and requirements. The grace of God in sending His Son prepared the way for all people, non-Israelites, to join the church and be part of the group that would be granted eternal life, the reward for Jesus’ sacrifice. It also represented that the time was at hand to get rid of the concept of “elitism” and segregation of different people. This change revealed that all people are the same in the eyes of God, with each being of as much value as any other. This was a radically new concept and appeared to be hard to implement in that long ago daily and temple life. The Israelites had always been God’s special people, the chosen ones---exclusive! They had always had to obey the strict rules but the newbies didn’t have to! “How was that fair?” may have been on the minds of some leaders.

There was discussion in the study group, then, about whether, in this current church, there were rituals, traditions and other like activities that had become rules of order but might not actually not be necessary. The church as a concept includes all who believe in Jesus are part of the Christian church. This refers to the whole body of believers. Then, there are the local churches with buildings and membership rolls, with bylaws with statements of belief and expected behaviors. These are places where believers join together to worship, fellowship, study and work as groups to expand their missions.

Bottom line, a special meeting was called 2000 years ago in the early Christian Church with the crux of the matter being settled after discussion and assessing behavioral trends of leaders resulting in resolution that all should go back to common sense application of the basic precepts of the church. As the membership grew and as individuals grew, during the revival and during the period of evangelical discipleship, with the new precepts introduced by Jesus, leaders and members needed to get back to the basics and not get hung up on traditions and rituals of old.

Acts 15 13-18 James broke the silence. “Friends, listen. Simeon has told us the story of how God at the very outset made sure that racial outsiders were included. 19-21 “So here is my decision: We’re not going to unnecessarily burden non-Jewish people who turn to the Master. We’ll write them a letter and tell them, ‘Be careful to not get involved in activities connected with idols, to guard the morality of sex and marriage, to not serve food offensive to Jewish Christians—blood, for instance.’ This is basic wisdom from Moses, preached and honored for centuries now in city after city as we have met and kept the Sabbath.”

Simplify! One piece of the puzzle at a time and eventually the pieces will line up with the big glorious picture revealed. Racial in this case didn’t mean skin color; it was more for cultural difference and past religious traditions. The purpose was get the heart right in the following areas:

1—Hear and belief that Jesus is the Son of God. He existed before humans were ever formed. He was born to a woman who was a virgin and his conception was through God Himself. Jesus came to pay for the sins of those who believed in Him and accepted Him as their Lord and Redeemer. The result of this is that all believers would be given eternal life, life after this life. This gift is only through grace and not through works.

2—Believing in the truth of Jesus is the way. There is no caveat.

3—However, in gratitude and with love, believers are commissioned to tell others about Jesus and that all who believe are welcome. Here is the piece of the puzzle: As you tell this, teach others to live like Jesus lived. To teach this, you have to learn about how He lived and what he did. As you learn, you will teach. As you teach, you will learn. Starting with the basics, you will teach to shun other gods (including material wealth for self, self-aggrandizement, elitism), guard sexual morality and not serve up offensive things (food, criticism, judgement) to other believers. As you learn, teach. As you teach, learn.

4—As you learn, you will learn about other jigsaw pieces and how they fit together with the other pieces. Live like Jesus and be nice to others. Take care of each other. Take care of yourself. Be innovative, creative, and diversify your activities. Live today while you prepare for the tomorrows of winter. Be joyful and appreciate the fun of the blessings in your life. Share your blessings and share your extra coats and blankets. Give food to those who are hungry. As you learn and live, you will teach. As you teach, you will learn.

5—Chaos is not new. Fix your food for today. Solve this problem. Store food for tomorrow. Get that problem out of your mind. Take care of yourself so that you can take care of others and so that you are not a burden to others. While you are looking for work, work something else. Make or sell something or save in all ways you can. Share what you can because others are struggling with the same issues. Understand that you are different from me and I am different from you. Elitism is gone. We are different but we have the same value in the eyes of God.

One day at a time, one piece of the puzzle at a time, we can regain control by learning new life management skills. We can grow in confidence with each day’s needs met. We can walk a mile (a quarter of a mile) in our neighbor’s shoes.

We can pray without ceasing ONLY when we are praying with a sincere heart. Learn how Jesus prayed and learn what it means to have a sincere heart. One piece of the puzzle at a time, one day at a time, basic wisdom from Moses, preached and honored for centuries now, Jesus carries me when I can’t carry myself.