journeys-page

I don’t know about you. But for the most part I’ve lived a pretty sheltered life. For a lot of my time on this earth, bad stuff happened to other people; people out there; people somewhere else. And even though that illusion from the back of my mind has been shattered several times now; a cousin killed in a car crash when I was in high school; losing my grandparents one by one; the death of a child; my Dad dying. As a pastor I’ve had several parishioners attempt or succeed at suicide, and I’ve lost count of the members and friends of all ages who’ve died with cancer. Right now, I average performing over 40 funerals a year. But then my mind will go back to old patterns and cubby hole the bad stuff and put it beyond the reach of me and my home town. So up until now pandemics happened in other countries, other places like New York City, New Orleans and Detroit. Not here. So this past week when Grand Island became the number one city in Nebraska for the CORONA virus, my mind had a hard time catching up to the fear and panic my heart and soul were generating. No, that can’t be right. Not here. But this deadly virus is here. Right now. And whether I get it comes down to how long the virus has been on the hard surface I touch. Or how far apart I am when someone at the grocery store who has it and doesn’t know it coughs, or breaths. Suddenly, the angst over having to learn how to do Zoom, or how to upload a video on Facebook seems minor. Suddenly the basics move to the forefront really fast. And saying thank you has become basic to the life of my soul. So I’m thankful me and my family members still have jobs. I’m thankful for those that stock the shelves at our grocery stores; those who truck our food in; those who stand at drive through windows interacting with the public every day; those who deliver packages from all over the world to my doorstep. I’m extremely grateful for doctors and nurses, police and fire fighters who risk exposure to the virus every day to be there for those who need them most. I’m thankful for scientists working night and day to try and find a vaccine. I’m thankful for the Trinity volunteers who risk exposure to hand out free food from the Heartland Foodbank as a part of our Loaves and Fishes ministry. I’m thankful for 16 or so women from my Tuesday afternoon Mathetes Bible Study who do a group text every morning and then pray together by text every afternoon at 1 p.m. I’m thankful for our church staff and leadership getting creative in how to stay in touch and reach out when face to face is no longer an option. I’m thankful for those in Trinity’s Caring ministry who are checking up on our elderly and home bound. I’m thankful for our UMW circles keeping track of each other by phone. I’m thankful for our tech team, Josh and Tim, and Allie, our publishing coordinator who roll with the constant changes needed to live stream our Sunday worship. I’m thankful for our musicians who come out to bring Sunday morning worship alive for us on line. I’m thankful for Susan who comes into the office to receive the mail and work on our books and communication. I’m thankful for all of you who have continued your regular giving to Trinity & those who have given above and beyond in this time of crisis. I’m thankful for Bruce, our Finance chair who fit our Trinity CARES SBA application into his busy tax preparation season so Trinity received assistance with our Payroll Protection Plan. I’m thankful for Jason who’s deep cleaning chair pads and wiping down walls while our building is not used right now. I’m thankful for Pastor Kalaba still teaching and preaching and Lectio Divina-ing and sharing his spiritual journeys. I’m thankful for Christina our Family/Children’s Ministry coordinator who’s put together video of our kids sharing what they miss about church and delivered home Sunday School kits to 14 or so families who requested them. I’m thankful for Kim, our parish nurse, who’s calling and checking up on Trinity folks she knows need extra attention right now. I’m thankful for Betty, our prayer chain person, who’s keeping us up with prayer requests by email and sending cards to folks she knows are in need. I’m thankful for each of you who check up with friends, family and neighbors as we isolate together. I’m thankful for Deb, who coordinated the writing and distributing of thank you notes written to front-line workers all over Grand Island. Right now, its looking like this may not be over for a while. It’s looking like we will be talking about life before and life after the pandemic. We are in the middle of a world-wide defining moment. My hope is that as Christians, we are living with the assurance that God is with us no matter what. And as followers of Jesus Christ, we will extend God’s love and spend our lives being there for each other. Grace & Peace, Rev. Kelly Karges