It’s going on a month now. How are you? As I imagine you isolated as I am from friends and family, I wonder how you’re doing. Are you working on projects around the house you’ve put off? Learning a new language? Reading more? Or maybe, along with your regular chores, you’re working from home and home schooling your children? Perhaps some of you are on the front lines working in essential jobs so the rest of us can stay home. (Thank you!) Whatever your answer, all our lives are dramatically different from what they were only a month ago. I’m not complaining, for many reasons, but mainly because some of my family and friends are facing much worse than being quarantined. As one of those who is healthy, sheltered and fed, I thank God daily for his abounding blessings and mercy. He is not far from any of us. He is right here with us through whatever we are facing. He is love!

It was her birthday, but she came around to my backyard with a small chocolate cake, with sprinkles! I was working to get rid of fire ants, which is an ongoing job in Texas. She put the cake on my patio table and we visited at the proper distance. Who makes cakes for the neighbors on their own birthday? My neighbor Sue. As we near Resurrection Sunday, her act of love brought to mind our Savior’s supreme act of selfless love for us. We didn’t do anything to deserve it. We owed everything to him instead. At the very end Christ prayed his Father might come up with another option for him. After all, Isaac was spared at the last second. Jesus had seen crucifixions. He knew what was in store. But when the answer was no, he resolutely went forward to his fate, taking on himself what we, you and I, deserved. Thank you, Lord, for our redemption, our justification and our reconciliation with the Father, gifts so priceless they cost you your life in the most horrible, tortuous, humiliating way possible. Though I’m eternally grateful, it still hurts my heart!

My image of myself is this organized, structured person. I even have a schedule for checking email or Twitter or Face Book on my mobile. (That doesn’t count texts from family and friends.) Or maybe I should say, I did have a schedule! Under the circumstances, it’s all but disappeared. If my phone dings, I’m checking it. Forget any schedule. I want to see photos and laugh at jokes and hear how my family and friends are doing. One of my friends says she could live like the monks of old, alone for years at a time. I seriously doubt that, because she sure enjoyed getting out for dinner with me and other friends several times a week before this came up. I believe God included a desire to communicate as part of our human nature. He wanted us to need to communicate, with him and with each other. How wonderful to understand our Savior sacrificed himself so we could be reconciled into a deep intimate relationship with our Father! Thank you, Lord! Did I just hear a ding?

Something was in the street. Too big for a squirrel and too hairy. Was it a cat or what? So I slowed way down. It was a dog, a Yorkie! I honked my horn, several times, just to be ignored. So I had to fully stop. She had decided to relieve herself right there, in her chosen spot, in the middle of my lane. Did she care I had to stop traffic for her? Not a bit. She didn’t give me the favor of a glance, just squatted in front of me and the cars waiting behind me. Then nose in air, she trotted off, back onto the sidewalk and grassy yard beyond. Thankfully, she didn’t take long! I’ve not owned a Yorkie myself so looked them up. Among their description were these gems: “They can be little divas!” “They can be very opinionated, so they dislike the leash ‘telling them what to do’ and may dart this way and that, or refuse to walk at all.” Housebreaking? They were top of the list of hardest breeds to housebreak. Now I know why that Yorkie wouldn’t move out of the street, and why my son’s and daughter-in-law’s Yorkie, Kramer, failed doggie obedience school!

“Speech is civilization itself. The word, even the most contradictory word, preserves contact—it is silence which isolates.” Those words, written by Thomas Mann many years ago, seem more than relevant today as we distance ourselves physically from one another. Of course, as one who has contacted many more people through the written word than through the spoken, I recognize how important it is to keep in touch when we can’t talk face to face. Even a hermit like me needs contact with the outside world occasionally, so think about all those stressed-out extroverts! We have all the electronic resources we need. No excuses for not taking the time to write an encouraging email or text. Our phones, whether landline or mobile, still work. And, yes, the mail is being picked up and delivered. Let’s keep communicating, folks!

With so many working from home, I’ve seen a lot of jokes about dogs being happy about it and cats not so much. But now I wonder. When one of my daughters and I decided to visit this week, me in my car, her in her driveway, six feet apart, the neighbor’s grey cat came over to join us. Obviously accustomed to a lot of love, it put on a little show of rolling over, a definite clue for a belly rub. After several such rollovers, it tried to rub against my daughter’s legs. She’s allergic so had to back away. What’s wrong with these humans? My cute cat tricks aren’t working. So it meowed at us. Finally, it hopped up on the hood of my car and proceeded to make its way into my car window. Oh no, I gently pushed it back. But this cat was persistent; it tried again. We had to realize our visit was over. I raised my window and we said our goodbyes. So, now I believe although many cats may be introverts, some cats are definitely extroverts!

Some years ago my kids got me a world globe for Christmas. It’s really large, like you might see in a library and it rotates in a stand. Sometimes I put my hand on it and pray. I looked over at it while writing this and thought I need to do that again. I pray for this world daily anyway, but sometimes it helps to turn the globe back and forth and around and think about all the countries and peoples that need God. As I’ve said, I’ve isolated myself because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but I have nothing to complain about. Here I am warm and cozy, listening to slow jazz music and contemplating life. A little later I’ll be putting together a meatloaf that will last me several days. The majority of people in this world are lacking enough food and clean water just to survive. And what about all the refugees from war-torn areas trying to find safety for their families, or even closer to home, the homeless who live under our bridges and sleep on park benches in all kinds of weather. These people are already suffering and now this. Lord, have mercy!

How are you? I hope okay in the midst of the ongoing health crisis. As we’ve all heard our medical personnel and health experts are asking us to stay home. As I’m on the most susceptible list, I’ve decided to isolate myself from large gatherings for now. I’m really going to miss seeing my church family every week. (Our pastor has canceled services and is sharing messages online.) Also, I’m not meeting my friends for our weekly get-togethers at local restaurants. That’s going to be hard too. But, you know, it would be a lot harder being exposed and learning you’ve spread it to your family and friends. No, I’m not panicking. I haven’t hoarded paper products or food. I have enough to last for a few weeks and I can always order online. After all, I’m just being asked to stay out of crowds. Our police, military, medical and other service providers can’t do that, bless their hearts, but I can.

Facing torture and death by Roman crucifixion, Christ ended his prayerful supplication by relinquishing his will to his Father’s will. He did this, fully aware of what it meant for him personally. One of my favorite authors, C.S. Lewis, mentioned three classes of people. (I’m paraphrasing.) The first aren’t concerned about God’s will at all and live only for their own pleasure, the second are Christians who are concerned about doing God’s will but wonder how much it’s going to cost them, and the third have the mind of Christ and have given up self all together. He said most of us fit in the second category. Ouch! When I am praying I have to admit I’m really hoping God sees situations the same way I do. But, over the years I’ve learned his will includes what’s best for everyone, not just me. Not everything that happens to us is God’s will, of course. Many times I’ve gotten myself into situations he has had to rescue me from. But, you know what, he always does!

I’m fairly new at this. What’s this Lenten season all about? Is it a time for introspection or celebration? I’ve read comments about various fasts, food and otherwise, and suggested items to give up during Lent. I’m giving up a book a day to remind me of Christ’s sacrifice so the whole world could be in relationship with God. That’s certainly worth celebrating. But, last Sunday our pastor spoke about taking inventory to see if we have any personal wounds that need Christ’s healing. He said unhealed, deep-seated hurts and wounds can affect how we react to others and how we see ourselves as well. Though he didn’t mention Lent (not our tradition), inviting Christ in to take that inventory at this time might be a good idea. (This sounds painful!) But then I’ve also read these days preceding Resurrection Sunday should be a joyful time. After all, it’s our salvation we’re talking about, our freedom from sin, guilt and shame. I’ve come to the conclusion remembering Jesus’ sacrifice should bring us to our knees to rid ourselves of whatever is taking away the joy and peace he means for us to have.