I shared with Ed, my old neighbour in Saskatchewan, that social distancing is hard on a talker like me. At our church, we have both live streaming and a limited number of people each week who can worship in person by making an appointment to attend service.
It was our opportunity to worship in church last Sunday. Our church is measured and taped so folks can keep two metres away from each other in the pews. The congregation is scattered around the building for safety. We are asked to wear masks as we enter or leave the building and keep two metres away from each other. All the safety precautions discourage easy talking among those attending church.
Ed knows if there is an indication a person is breathing, I will be ready to talk with them. He says that at my age, I should be wise enough to know others may not want to speak to me, especially if I should falter at keeping a safe six feet away. I said there is less chance of me making a slip of my tongue with social distancing and limited talking to others.
Not being able to talk freely with others at church is a small matter. Especially when I consider that Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” I’m guilty of wanting my church attendance to be familiar and comfortable. Sadly, I can be more focused on myself than on being one with Christ and taking up my cross in a more authentic experience of the Christian life.
Billy Graham wrote, “To take up your cross means to associate with Christ and share His rejection. It means you take a stand for Christ even-though people make fun of you, persecute you or even kill you.”
I know I am better at focusing on things that do not matter, rather than losing my life for the sake of Jesus Christ. Most would agree that the COVID-19 virus infects and kills throughout the world. The virus of sin infects everyone, for we are born with it, as a genetic-like link with original sin. Jesus Christ is the vaccine for sin and its spiritual death.
When I consider how Paul worked tirelessly to spread the truth of Jesus Christ, I see how little I am taking up my cross. In 2 Corinthians, Paul writes of taking up his cross by being frequently in prison, flogged and exposed to death. Five times he received 39 lashes, three times he was beaten by rods, once he was stoned, three times he was shipwrecked. Because Paul shared about Jesus Christ, he had to be on the move constantly from those opposed to his witness of Christ
Paul did not put down his cross because of danger or hunger. The pandemic has turned our lives upside down. It has provided the opportunity to slow us down enough to hear Jesus say, “Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge before my Father, who is in heaven. Whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father, who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32)
