“Learnings in a Season Such as This”
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-15 & Matthew 11: 25-30 ~ Rev. G. Scott Turnbrook ~ Northwood United ~ July 5, 2020
Unprecedented! We are living in ‘unprecedented times!’ There are a number of people growing weary of the word ‘unprecedented’. Perhaps you are one of them? So…before you tune out, I am going to make you a promise not to use the “U-word” during this morning’s reflection. In fact, if I use the word, come by the church and I promise to treat you to a warm cup of your favourite cup of coffee that we can enjoy in a socially distant manner. This morning I want to ponder what we have learned over the past 3 ½ months in this Covid 19 time. As Emma reminded us in the first reading, the wisdom writer Ecclesiasticus wrote about the various seasons, and I suspect that you, like me, have been doing a lot of thinking about what learning opportunities this season provided. And this morning, I’m wondering if these times might be better understood as a season rather than a unique outlier. So, as I pay attention not to use the ‘U-word’, let’s begin in prayer.
So what have we learned in this season? The first learning that I have experienced, and observed, in our world, is about our desire for comfort and control. I have become very aware of our world’s expectation for our favourite comforts to be available when desired. We desire a feeling of an overall mastery over things. Perhaps you may see yourself, and our world in this? I will speak for myself when I confess that I love when things work as they should, when they are reliable, and when they can be counted upon to perform. We are a world that likes its creature comforts in their varied forms. And we have grown accustomed to feeling that we are masters of our own domain. As an example, we like to have our beverages prepared in a certain way, don’t we? Just listen in to a customer at a Starbucks or Tim Horton’s as they rattle off their order. Make mine a venti, half-café, no foam latte. And heaven help the barista if they mix the order up! We have a growing expectation of seeing our favourite foods on the shelf at the store. At one time there was the lowly egg. Now we have small, medium, large sized eggs. Eggs are available in white, brown, free-range, omega-3 and the variety goes on and on. And then we have been reminded of our distaste with waiting. We do not like to line up at stores, to be locked out of our churches, our favourite non-essential retail outlets. There seemed an odd irony when the liquor store was deemed an essential service and not required to close along with other non-essential retailers.
What this season has taught the entitled ways desiring comfort and control is the importance of gratitude, humility and appreciation for the little things. Things have been very difficult. But, in the end, most people received what they needed. They may not have been exactly what they wanted; however, most have managed to persevere. I wonder if we will gain some perspective on the growing feelings of entitlement our culture has alllowed. I know it has humbled me a lot. It has caused me to be appreciative to come away from the store with eggs on some days and toilet paper on others. Oh what joy! I began to recall my days living in Northern BC serving my first church. I came across a sign above the produce which read: ‘we apologize for the quality of our produce this week’. (I later learned that some weeks the long trip on the trucks were particularly difficult on the produce as they arrived ready for what we, in the Lower Mainland, might deem as good for the clearance rack). I have noticed that this season has softened people. It has lowered their expectations. It has raised their appreciation for the little things. It has given them increased tolerance for the hiccups that we are experiencing. This season has taught us to feel a little less entitled to the comforts and control we demand. This season has taught us appreciation for the little things: a little more patience, and a little more understanding, a little more grace. For everything there is a season…
The second learning for me has been an assurance of the goodness of our human race. We may have wondered about this in the early stages. Humankind’s goodness was tested in the early stages as fear and opportunity seemed to be the guiding factors in our world. We witnessed the hoarding of certain essentials: masks, hand sanitizing items, and….of all things…toilet paper! Who would have thought toilet paper? Shopping in your grocery store would begin to incite a growing level of fear…as it prompted panic buying in a growing number of consumers. To be sure, it was an eerie experience. People lining up before the store’s opening only to find limited selection with some items and empty shelves with others. Do you remember those days? For those lucky enough to be in the aisle when a hot commodity was being re-stocked, you would receive a condemning glare from other shoppers as you made your way to the checkout with the prized item. Panic buying and even hoarding began as people purchased more than they needed. And what is even worse…opportunists began re-selling items for profit to fearful consumers worried about how long the supply drought would last. Like me, you began to hold concern over the goodness of humanity. What have we become, we collectively lamented? Countering this arose the overwhelming goodness of the human spirit. Through the fear, humanity’s goodness grew. Rising above the opportunists and the hoarders, was the caring human spirit that we knew always to be there. People among our own congregation called me up and wanted to offer their help. And I began to share these offers and connect people who might be in need. Help with shopping for those who couldn’t get out; help with other things people might not be able to attend to when they were housebound. And then the sewers began to sew. I received a package of masks in the mail from a caring member of the church wanting to make sure I had a few masks of my own. Offer upon offer from people to make masks for others who need them. And then the stranger started to call the church. I began to receive offers of help for other community members. Hello…you don’t know me, but I live in the neighbourhood and wanted to help. To shop, to do odd jobs, to make masks, the offers were many! The offers were diverse, they were caring, and they were from these kind caring strangers. We have begun to see kindness and caring spreading faster than any virus ever could! Amidst this fearful, scary time I have been reminded of the true beauty the caring human spirit which is in us all, even in a season such as this. For everything there is a season…
Another learning was around the deeply human need for community. This period may have initially been experienced by introverts as a delightful oasis as we were forced into seclusion. But the romance faded. I heard some wonderful goals being posted on social media of how productive people were going to be during this time: learning to play a new instrument, to develop a desired skill, to declutter their home. However, what began as a ‘honeymoon’ time or opportunity to be seized, soon ended exposing the pains of being alone. What we have uncovered was the large sense of loss and need in the air. We realized the deep need of our human self for community. This need of community: of being around others….the touch of another…a handshake when we are greeted, a hug from special friends. Simply being around others…in a crowded coffee shop, or a restaurant, or a library. We have truly realized the need we all have for one another. God’s act of creation of the human species, as told in Genesis, began with the creation of one, and immediately followed with the creation of it’s partner ~ Adam and Eve. We were never designed to be in isolation. Few of us can thrive as ‘hermits’. The most severe punishments given in prison is solitary confinement to the prisoner. We need the touch, the presence, the love of others around us. We need to be challenged, comforted, and supported by others. I recall vividly the Sunday that Jaqueline and Walt were distributing the Purdy’s chocolate orders. Perhaps you do as well? The orders had been taken prior to our closure and the chocolate needed to get to its customers! So, donning masks and gloves, we gathered in the parking lot after the online service concluded. And people arrived and received their chocolate from a safe social distance. But…what they didn’t receive was the community they craved! After one month apart, we dearly missed one another. There was a deep angst in the air. We truly missed one another. There was a desire to hug and embrace…for we yearned to be a church family! Special days have not been as they should…Mother’s Day was socially distant, as was Father’s Day, perhaps some family birthdays and other celebrations as well? People are separated in their residences and we all crave community. That is the way God created us. We have all gained a deeper understanding of Jesus’ teaching “where two or three are gathered, I am there among them.” And we yearn for the parties and celebrations that will break out when the time is right…for this season has truly taught us what community means. For everything there is a season…
Another learning that I have seen come to the fore has been how truly resilient God’s people are. Indeed, the demands were high back in the first few weeks! Few churches, certainly NOT Northwood, were prepared to go online in a matter of days. It seemed that a regular week of church life offered enough challenges. All of a sudden…everything stopped. And we needed to ‘reinvent themselves’. And we realized how truly resilient we can be when needed. The leadership team met frequently. Every second week faithfully guiding each of our moves forward. We created online worship when we had never even begun to experiment with it; zoom gatherings were created for meditation, for study groups, for meetings when most of us had never before used a video conferencing system. A telephone tree was set up to ensure that everyone received regular phone calls. And then utilizing our big sanctuary as a ‘temporary thift store’ through the summer months to allow this outreach ministry to continue! I am truly in awe over how resilient the church has been through this time! People have truly stepped up supporting the church’s ministry over and beyond the ways in the past. Being understanding when the inevitable hiccups occur. Being so appreciative for the little things we can offer in our diminished capacity. I have constantly found myself in awe over the resiliency of God’s united people called Northwood during this season. For everything there is a season…
None of us know what the future will hold. A second wave? An awaited cure? Yet, in the changing seasons, the reading highlights the unchanging nature of God. So often, we neglect the conclusion of this reading which highlights this beautiful part of God’s nature: “That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already is; and God seeks out what has gone by.” I *think* I have managed to avoid using the ‘U-word’ through this morning’s reflection. I have been able to do so as we hold the truth of these words up. That even amidst this season God offers a stable rock providing a sure foundation; Christ offers us an easy yoke a place to rest; and the Holy Spirit will fill us with grace and peace through this season and every season. But…hey…If you still want your free coffee, by all means come by and the coffee is on me!
Amen.