Opening Up, Maybe

We have reached the middle of May along with mid spring and warmer weather. People are getting out and enjoying the outdoors again, somewhat anyway. It has been two months since lock downs started due to COVID-19 and now Iowa and some other states are reducing restrictions, but not completely.

For the first time since March 8, my home church held the morning service in the building with a congregation. However, only alternating benches could be used and family groups had to stay six feet apart from each other. That limited seating capacity to about 85 and not everybody could come. My family did not venture out and instead did online service again.

Restaurants, hair salons, and other businesses are also allowed to be open, but with restrictions. Therefore, the state is starting to reopen, but not anywhere close to what we knew prior to the virus. This past week, I scheduled two upcoming meetings, but both will be conducted through Zoom instead of in person as normal.

Conference Watching Mode

Yesterday, I watched an all-day conference (seven hours at least) that featured five different Christian speakers. They gave practical messages on responding to this world that has gone Bonkers (the conference title) and every lesson was followed by a question and answer session from the audience in 37 different countries. The world rapidly switching to digital interaction has made such a meeting possible and more common.

One of the speakers used the book of Daniel in his sermon. He pointed out our trust in God is determined before a situation, not at the moment of testing. I haven't faced a fiery furnace, but these last two months have been stark reminders that everything can change quickly, and to fully trust in God alone.

I've had times of testing trust before in the quad life and I'm sure will again. Each time though can serve to strengthen my trust or cause it to shake. I hope that more people experience the first result and not the second. As life begins to return to some sense of normalcy, let us not forget to hold on to trust in God for everything.