Sunday March 08, 2020, at a “Children and Youth” service at St. James, more than 120 of us worshipped together like we have for over three score years. The following Sunday, I stood in front of an all but empty church and a camera. A pandemic brought a halt to our norm.
I write to encourage you to consider taking the COVID-19 vaccine at your earliest opportunity. I’m going with faith in the vaccine. I took the vaccine January 5, 2021. I found it interesting and comforting that a former employee of mine waited on me and a woman I coached in basketball when she was in 4th grade gave me the injection. Couldn’t help but wonder who else was there:
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:7-10
Let me mess with you for a minute: The majority of doctors, CNAs, nurses, medical technicians, first responders, firefighters, police, hospital staff, doctors’ office staff, politicians, seniors in nursing homes, and even people who can sneak to the front of the line are, or will, take the vaccine. If the vaccine proves lethal, I don’t want to be around when the people on that list all are gone!!! Okay. Back to serious.
Taking the vaccine or choosing not taking the vaccine is a between a rock and a hard place situation. For me, the choice is to try and do something about it or wait until something happens. Also consider this: If you are vaccinated, you’d be better fortified to fight the virus and therefore would be freer to move about society, travel, and even physically return to the sanctuary to worship. We’ll still need to take precautions, but minds and hearts will be more at ease.
As a spiritual leader, I want the absolute best for the people I love. I believe the best course of action in this despicable pandemic is to be proactive. I hope everyone reading this will take the vaccine at the earliest possible opportunity.
A prayer for peace and safety
Loving God, please Give me eyes to see Your protection and provision in my own life as I wait patiently for Your plan to unfold. I pray that you keep my family safe. Help me to aid them in feeling safe while I can. I know that things can often be outside of my control, so I ask that You protect them when I fail to be able to do so.
You know that waiting seasons push me to trust and obey. Please help me to fix my eyes on You when I don’t know what will happen next. Help me to trust Your timing. My church family is heavy on my heart right now. I choose to trust You and rest in Your sufficiency. You provided for Elijah in incredible ways. Help me trust You during this time of waiting. Grow my faith as I listen and learn until change comes. Amen.