QUARANTINED

Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful

unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee:

yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I

make my refuge, UNTIL these

calamities be over past.

Psalm 57:1

We're hearing the word “quarantined” a lot lately, and with a gush of thought has come a memory I think little of unless reminded in a way like today's circumstances. I was in the first grade when one morning I woke up with itchy little bumps all over my body. It was frightening for a little kid because I hadn't seen them the night before. I didn't even have a name for it, but my Mother sure did the minute she saw me...”Chicken Pox....oh no.” She got on the phone to the doctor who confirmed what it was with Mother's description of my looks.

I was told I couldn't go to school. That didn't sound too bad although with time, life was a little boring. The worst part of the whole thing was that first day when a man showed up from City Hall. I was sitting on the swing of our porch. He asked me to go into the yard, but not out of it. I don't think he wanted to be around me. Mother had said that Chicken Pox was something others could get from being around me. The man didn't even knock on our front door. He took some nails out of is pocket and put them between his two front teeth...that was odd. Then from his belt came a hammer. He already had a yellow sign in his hand probably a little longer and wider than a legal size sheet of paper. He nailed that sign onto the front wall of our house to the upper side of our front door. The sign was of heavy cardboard. I just remember the one big black word on it “QUARANTINED.”

It was explained to me that the sign warned people to stay away from our house and especially me because what I had was “catching.” I could be in the yard, but if anyone walked up I had to get to the porch. It had to be that way until I was “all better”. Only then would the man come back and take the sign down leaving four holes in the wall.

Being quarantined in our day doesn't require a sign by the door, but it's just as inconvenient, especially for adults who aren't used to staying put for any length of time. We Christians need to realize that God knows what's going on and I believe He wants us to take advantage of these different days. Every minute of our lives with God is important to Him and thus should be important to us.

We are a busy people. We come and go often on a whim. Jobs may keep folks busy as do responsibilities when workers get home. There are always things to be done, people to see and places to go. But now, things have come to a stand still. Routine is different, children are home from school, need things from the grocery store and enjoyable activities cease...even church.

In all this disruption in our lives, what are some things that might please God during this time of isolation The word “isolation” is almost offensive. It means that for some reason, we have to be put to one side, away from friends, co-workers and even family as much as can be. As Christians, however, our viewpoint must be different from all others. Where the world is in a panic, you and I can know a peace that only our Lord can give and maintain in our lives.

Despite the inconveniences of these days, I know that God won't waste a crumb of this experience. I've also learned that if I don't learn the things He desires right now, He'll put me through a retest down the road. It can be far worse than the first testing time.

Along with tiring of any virus news on TV and refusing to watch most of it, we can find ourselves a little bored with all the spiritual advice we get from various sources that all sound the same. We mustn't let those encouraging words roll off of us despite their repetition. I can't hear enough that in these days of isolation, God is very present in my “now-ness” and in very personal ways. This is not “spiritual coat tail” time. I can't ride on someone else's spiritual experience. I want to sense and know the presence of Jesus in my life like never before, One on one. We mustn't waste precious moments in this new process we find ourselves in. Remember, God always has a plan.

Dear Father, there's so much information coming and going our way these days. Keep drawing us to Your Word, the only real accurate information we have to keep us strong and close to You. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for Your constant presence and teaching. In Jesus precious name...Amen