You all know how it is with Facebook : post, reply, scroll, delete ……and sometimes , think ! I saw a post the other day that made me think.
This post that made me think had to do with Covid : the sickness, the deaths, and the vaccinations and masks. And the writer of this post stated unequivocably that she had no interest in listening to any advice concerning the virus, that God would protect her without any interference from anybody or anything else. And I began to wonder how all the people who have suffered from Covid, who have lost family and friends to this terrible disease, who have agonized over their separation during hospitalization, reacted to this statement. Did God desert them, only to take care of this one woman ?
God made us the whole person . He gave us ears to hear, eyes to see, tongues to talk, lungs to breathe, arms to hold, legs to walk, and BRAINS to think . No matter our position on masks and vaccinations , it is our responsibility and PRIVILEGE to use our God-given brain !
I believe in prayer; I believe in power of prayer; I believe God answers prayers. First prayer was ” Now I lay me down to sleep…. ” . First blessing, ” Thank you for the food we eat. Thank you for the friends we meet. ( My mother told me that I said, ” friends we eat ! ” ).
I grew up attending Sunday School, church, revivals, vacation Bible School, at least 3 church camps: Camp Mikell ( Episcopal ), Camp Pinnacle ( Baptist ) , Hartwell Campground ( Methodist ). I was schooled, soaked in the Holy Spirit and proud of it. Byron and I assumed leadership positions and reared our children in the church. We supported ( and support ) financially as generously as we can. We believe the church to be a visible sign of good works and Christian attitude.
My friends range from Pentecostal to Catholic and all denominations in between. As a child growing up , I spent as much time at First Baptist in Lavonia as I did First Methodist in Lavonia where I was and am now a member. I faithfully went to both BTU ( Baptist Training Union ) and MYF ( Methodist Youth Fellowship ). I was a happy and loyal member of Sunbeams at First Baptist with Sarah Bullard, who was, in my opinion, the ultimate Christian woman: kind, caring, and no-nonsense. My mother was Presbyterian so I experienced the grace of that denomination as well. My hand has held the hand of God at many levels and in many instances.
But in the comfort zone of being a ” do-the-best-I-can ” Christian, I find myself returning to the most basic concept of loving and praising a God who cries out, ” I am very busy . I have sparrows to watch over, fish in the seas, babies who cry, old people who suffer, dogs who hurt, teachers who struggle, children who hunger, pastors who pray, fathers who misunderstand, mothers who love, power brokers who deceive, criminals who regret, drunks who misstep, church goers who sin, politicians who lie, celebrities who mislead, people who try, doctors who heal, nurses who provide, and people who understand and those who don’t. ”
God is tending to unloved children, abused animals, domestic violence, terrorism, wars, poverty, ungodly people…..and with the woman who is relying on Him, and Him alone , to take care of her.
I say to this woman that she continue her prayers in her faith. But rather than asking that He do it all, instead ask that His will be done in all things. He cares…… of course He cares…… but He gave us all brains…………………….
I saw a meme that someone posted that was profound in its simplicity.
————An old farmer was leaning on a shovel. The caption read,
——————” I GAVE YOU THE SHOVEL. YOU MUST DIG THE HOLE “.
Well written—-from the heart! ♥️
Perfectly said!
Amen!!!
As always, well thought out “words of wisdom.” By the way, I love that meme!
Yes!!!
You speak for all of us, my dear, dear friend!
I always enjoy your posts but today I have a request. The past year or so has given plenty of people an opportunity to opine on the efficacy of medical treatments, conflate politics with medical advice, and question various medical professionals’ training and qualifications. I feel like this isn’t a new phenomenon, perhaps the only new phenomenon is how quickly and loudly we can share these opinions… but what are your thoughts? Maybe this isn’t anything new – maybe it goes back to your post about entitlements. I’ve just been surprised by how many people favor their own findings (term used loosely) over advice from folks who have committed their lives to the study and practice of medicine. Something tells me that nobody was treating doctors or medicine this way in 1950s Lavonia! At any rate, I’d welcome your perspective and any words of advice as we move forward in this brave new world.
PS: I debated on the use of a pseudonym but thought it might bring a smile to an English teacher’s face.
WILBUR ! You are right on . I, too, am dismayed at the lack of confidence in education, experience, and expertise that is evidenced during the Covid crisis. I can’t express it any more clearly than you have . It is the downside of the internet, social media in particular, which leads gullible readers to presume that the written word is always the truth. Takes me back to the Talmadge days in Georgia when Eugene talked about ” them lyin’ newspapers ! “. Now it’s ” them lyin’ Facebook posts ” ! Another cultural issue that seems prevalent nationwide ( and very obvious in Franklin County ) is the division of the “haves ” and “have-nots”. This tends to create a deep-rooted resentment of the better educated public ; hence, resistance. As to Lavonia in the ” good ole days ” , my memory tells me that professional and knowledgeable people were respected for their wisdom and experience. This included , but was not limited to, doctors, nurses, teachers, preachers, and on and on……..
PS: Got a kick our of the pseudonym and have no idea who you are . But here’s my profile of you : well-educated, thoughtful, somewhere close to my age, either Lavonia or Winder background, probably male, and kind enough to read my blog !!!! Thanks for the dialogue……………. ( Maybe I should have added healthcare professional to my profile, considering the fictional character ).