Dear God, make me a bird...

Hopefully through this pandemic, you've created somewhat of a "new normal" routine.  While I'm working in our spare room upstairs, I've developed a TV schedule throughout my day.  I have the Today Show on from about 8-11a and then switch to one of the cable news networks...mainly just to hear interviews from doctors and other leaders.  Then, like every other Ohioan, it's "Wine with Dewine" at 2pm....although, I don't really wine, lol...but that's become the universal phrase for the informative press conference time given by our Governor, Lt Governor, and Director of the Ohio Dept of Health.  After that, it's usually back to the cable news, and then local news at 5.  Exciting day, huh?  For some reason, whenever there is a major crisis going on, it calms my anxieties to have the news on all day.  Anyone else like this?

One segment that is pretty consistent on the Today Show during this time are the interviews with pastors, bishops, rabbis, and other leaders of faith....all of whom say a prayer for us before the end of the segment.  This makes me cry every time...one, because they're saying so perfectly what we're all trying to say...and two, they're not just praying for those who following their denomination or faith, they're praying for us all...a unified body of faith.  

One thing this pandemic has done to our country...to our world...is brought us together.  How incredible is that?  Our lives are quieter, our schedules are clear.  Our minds might be unsettled, but our hearts are bigger, our love for each other is growing, and our willingness to 'love our neighbor' is increasing.  

Sure, none of us understand why all of this is happening...and it is valid to include those thoughts in our daily prayers or reflections.  There are a lot of questions and financial discontentment caused by this pandemic.  Some of us have lost loved ones during this time, or have family members who are essential workers and are sacrificing for us everyday, or we may even be sick ourselves.  I find myself trying to find some way to be grateful for this time of rest in order to balance my fears and anxieties.  We have been able to slow down more, love more, give more, reflect more, try new things, cook more, spend more time with family, be outside, and know that we are all in this together.

As I'm sitting here typing this, I'm looking out the window watching and listening to the birds...which I so often do in the morning.  This passage came into mind...

Matthew 6:26-34 New International Version (NIV)

"26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Prior to remembering that passage, my blog title was "Lord, Hear Our Prayer"...but changed it to the famous line from Jenny in Forrest Gump "Dear God, make me a bird...(so I can fly far. Far far away from here)".  

Make us like the birds who do no worry and trust that You will provide and see us through this.