One year. This month marks one year since we first took serious action in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; a lot has changed in these past 12 months. Some of it has occurred naturally – things that would have happened anyway – and some of it was in direct response or reaction to the pandemic. But in both cases, we’re left with a very different landscape than that of our beginning. I think we can make a few parallels here.

First, the church needs to respond and react to the situations that are around us. This is true of The Church (Christ’s people on earth) as well as Westminster Presbyterian. I have the privilege of working with and alongside lots of different ministry-minded folks; not one of them thinks that things are going to “go back to normal.” It is certainly true that we all look forward to opening our doors to children, youth, families, and congregational worship. It is in many ways the lifeblood of what we do as God’s people, but it is equally true that we’ve learned, grown, and changed in this “in between” time.

You’ve experienced this in your own life, I’m sure. Your eyes have been opened to new priorities. You’ve recognized different needs. You’ve stepped into new, or away from old, habits. You’re not the same person that you used to be – but you continue to move forward. We, as the body of this nook of God’s Kingdom, must do the very same. We are called to identify new priorities, values, and experiences. To meet the needs of those around us, both new and old. We’re called to evaluate where we’ve been and where we feel that God is calling us. It won’t all be “normal.”

Second, here in the middle of Lent, we can take a minute to reflect upon the things that have been “given up.” I’d bet enormous sums of money that before this past year landed, you’d never thought, “I can’t wait to go grocery shopping without a mask.” Or, more pointedly, a friend of mine recently said, “I just can’t wait to go in a grocery store.” A very small piece of the many things that have been lost this year, but it goes to show how much we take for granted on a daily basis. What would it be like, as we begin to see some light on the horizon, for us to view this season as a spiritual practice in the same way that we might view giving up desserts, or meat, or whatever it is that you may have set aside for this Lenten season? We’re not where we want to be; we don’t do all the things that we used to do. But maybe there’s some reason, some purpose that can allow for us to find meaning in these sacrifices. Lent is an ideal season to reflect on what has been lost as we look ahead to a new and different life. I’m sure that we’d agree there’s much to look forward to.

Let’s take a collective breath and remind ourselves that it’s okay to come out of this season in a different place from where we began. I can’t think of a time when God called his people back to the start. Where do you feel that God is calling you as we move through this season? I’d love to hear about your experience.

Be well, friends.

– Ed Sutter