Dear friends, 

As is usually the case, there are many perspectives and experiences even while we journey through the same circumstances. During this time when we all are living through this “stay at home” directive, we are experiencing the pandemic in a variety of ways.

I read an article on Facebook today, which reminds me of the old saying, “Walk a mile in my shoes, before you criticize or abuse.”

May we do just that…may we remember that we don’t fully know what another is experiencing until or unless we have walked their path. So, may we be kind to one another in this journey. 
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SAME STORM, DIFFERENT BOATS
After listening to some pretty harsh comments & arguing over re-opening or completely shutting down for another two weeks, someone…wrote this:

WE ARE NOT IN THE SAME BOAT …

I heard that we are all in the same boat, but it’s not like that. We are in the same storm, but not in the same boat. Your ship could be shipwrecked and mine might not be. Or vice versa.

For some, quarantine is optimal. A moment of reflection, of re-connection, easy in flip flops, with a cocktail or coffee. For others, this is a desperate financial & family crisis.

For some that live alone they’re facing endless loneliness. While for others it is peace, rest & time with their mother, father, sons & daughters.

With the $600 weekly increase in unemployment some are bringing in more money to their households than when they were working. Others are working more hours for less money due to pay cuts or loss in sales.
Some families of 4 just received $3400 from the stimulus while other families of 4 saw $0.

Some were concerned about getting a certain candy for Easter while others were concerned if there would be enough bread, milk and eggs for the weekend.

Some want to go back to work because they don’t qualify for unemployment and are running out of money. Others want to kill those who break the quarantine.

Some are home spending 2-3 hours/day helping their child with online schooling while others are spending 2-3 hours/day to educate their children on top of a 10-12 hour workday.

Some have experienced near death from the virus, some have already lost someone from it and some are not sure if their loved ones are going to make it. Others don’t believe this is a big deal.

Some have faith in God and expect miracles during this 2020. Others say the worst is yet to come.

So, friends, we are not in the same boat. We are going through a time when our perceptions and needs are completely different.

Each of us will emerge, in our own way, from this storm. It is very important to see beyond what is seen at first glance. Not just looking, actually seeing.

We are all on different ships during this storm experiencing a very different journey.

Realize that and be kind.

Unknown author
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Friends, Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And, the second was to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. I believe that as we love God with all that we are, we will love our neighbor as we love ourselves. And, that would include being kind to “neighbors” as we would want them to be kind to us.

Blessings, grace, prayers, and peace
–Pastor Sherry