Finding Faith ... in looking back on two years

I wrote this post two years ago today, the day we learned that our church would be shut down for an unknown amount of time. There was enough anxiety and fear in the air, but I think it would have been worse if we had known that our days would remain shut for an entire year and a half more.

Looking back on this day now, just hours after we celebrated a Spirit-filled Lenten service among our beloved faith community, it's hard to believe any of this ever happened. The empty pews, learning to broadcast services live in a trial-by-fire fashion, the exhaustion, the weariness, the anxiety, the unknown, the fear. ... All of it for months on end.

There was a steady group of volunteers who helped video our services, play piano for our services and sing for our services. This dedicated group of people hung with me for all of that year and a half and made the unknown a little less scary. Their determination to help bring a worship service to our congregation each and every week was admirable and made me love them all the more.

Our church learned a lot about ourselves in these past two years. We learned that we are resilient and clever when we need to be. We learned that our people love gathering together. We learned that church is more than just what happens inside our sanctuary on Sunday mornings. Much more, in fact. We learned that we are still vibrant. And most importantly, we learned that are best years are not behind us.

Yes, we are mostly back to normal worship at our church. There are some beloved members who are no longer with us as they passed during the pandemic shutdown. And we have other members who, for health reasons, just are not attending as frequently as they used to.

BUT, we also now have faithful people who tune in each week to watch our services live who never would have been able to worship in community with us without us figuring out how to broadcast our services. So, yes, there is a silver lining in all of this.

I'm still saddened tonight by all of the loss in the past two years. The loss of life -- a million in the U.S. alone -- and 6 million around the world. The loss of family businesses, some that had been in business for generations. The loss of belief in community and shared values. The loss of cohesion.

But as with all in live, perspective is important too.

At several points during the pandemic, I preached about the pandemic unveiling the good for us too. Think of the frontline workers we take for granted, who in the early days stocked shelves, ran trucks and prepped food in struggling restaurants when many were sheltered at home.

Think of the health care workers, who despite the political division that many cost the lives of too many served faithfully at their posts and risked their lives to take care of our loved ones.

Think of the emergency responders who had to add the stress of the pandemic onto the already thick and complex layers of the work they do.

The clergy of all faith traditions who worked tirelessly to ensure that all of their flock, even though those shut in at home, were cared for spiritually.

There were and still are so many heroes in all this. So many heroes that will never receive their due. Tonight, I keep them all in my prayers as I look back on these past two years.

Blessings to you all friends and family. What a remarkable milestone that has passed so quietly. 🙏💒

Here is the post I originally wrote on Facebook two years ago:

Dear family and friends,

There are a great many millions who are going to be affected by this worldwide pandemic. I just wrote a Facebook post for my church today that I could never in a millions years have anticipated that I would have to write four years ago when our family started down this journey.

I'm not afraid to say that I cried when I finally hit the "Post" button.

I love our Faith Lutheran services. ... Despite the sometimes challenging circumstances presented to our own personal family while pursing this call the last four years, I still find our FLC services to be the most spiritually fulfilling time of my week ... because I get to spend it with our broader faith family.

Two and a half years ago, this congregation lovingly embraced a wild-eyed, frightened and "green" seminarian, and they have helped to shape me into the intern pastor that I am today. I owe the people of Faith Lutheran a deep debt of gratitude, and so to know that we will not be able to gather in person for the foreseeable future, breaks my heart.

But if I know one thing about our congregation, I know that the coronavirus is not enough to break their faith. ... And I trust that they will embrace the call of faithful people everywhere to step forward with their time, talents and treasure wherever called. This is why I love this congregation.

However, the need is so great that this global challenge is going to require of each and every one of us a level of sacrifice we haven't known in a generation. Not since 9/11.

Each of you that I am friends with on Facebook are good people. I know that because I only friend people whom with I have a relationship. And so I am absolutely confident that when I ask of you today, "Can you step out of your comfort zone to help one person or one family in need?" that you will respond.

Our "normal" lives were busy, but our "normal" lives are being interrupted by cancellations in all aspects of our lives: work, academics, recreation, sport, art, family gatherings, etc. ... And while each of those cancellations brings with it a certain sadness, I also like to believe it gives us an opportunity to pour ourselves into others. Despite whatever events are being taken away from us, we are in exchange being given the opportunity to make others' lives better.

There are millions of opportunities for you to make a difference. There are still volunteer opportunities for limited-sized groups. ... There are people who have become shut-ins through no fault of their own other than their age or the facility in which they reside, and they could use phone calls or Skype visits, or what have you. ... There are food pantries that will go bare, and families that will go broke without work. ... Millions of peoples' lives will change in the near future. And you are capable of making a difference.

I pray that we all answer the call.

That being said, dear loved ones, if there is something our family can help you with during this time, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. ... Or if I can somehow be a liaison to make bridges between something you have to give and people in need, please hit me up. ... I will faithfully serve to find your generosity a home.

Dear friends ... as people of faith, we need not be a people easily frightened into submission, but rather we have the Spirit, the skills and the love to reach out a hand to those in peril. ... Please take this time as our "normal" lives take a pause to think about those around you in the margins. I promise you they need us now more than ever. Blessings to you all. Stay safe. Stay healthy. And stay connected.

With much love ... D