A whisper in my mind, “Is this safe?” Saturday afternoon Diane and I went to the International Horseradish Festival. Collinsville claims to be the horseradish capital of the world. True or not, horseradish is the major crop in Collinsville. Main Street was closed off to traffic so that booths and vendors could set up and sell food, drinks, and baubles to the crowd. Almost all festival goers were unmasked and, yes, Dale, it seems safe.
“The seven-day average for newly reported deaths fell to 432 on Thursday…. The figure hasn’t been this low since late March 2020, in the early days of the pandemic, the data show…. ‘This milestone reinforces that the U.S. is in the homestretch of the epidemic, thanks to vaccinations,’ said Andrew Brouwer, an assistant research scientist in epidemiology at the University of Michigan.” (Wall Street Journal, June 5-6; A1, 6)
People will discuss the pandemic for years to come, and as it has been, things wise and things stupid will be said. You can count on church people to say both as well, but we church people should be of one mind about one thing, and we should be saying it. “O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who down to the pit” (Psalm 30:2-3).
We grieve for the 600,000 who died from Covid and for their families. We know the pandemic has not abated in many nations. Thus far, your life and mine have been spared from this disease that could have taken us. Let people have their opinions, but at least to one another the people of the church must say and pray, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy” (Psalm 103:2-4).
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