Walking in Wonder...

Talking with people has been strange in recent weeks.  All contact is at a distance which has been helpful to slow the pandemic, but difficult to maintain some relationships at the same time. Many of my conversations this week have been with teachers. Teachers are a rare kind of person. The really good ones are comfortable around young learners, they thrive on the energy of learning and teaching, right now it is hard for them to thrive. Many of them say things like, “I just want to see my kids”. It’s a sweet sentiment to us, but very much a deep stirring in them to be around their people doing what they are made to do.  

I think that is the crux of the frustration of everyone may be feeling during this social isolation time. Are we really doing what we are made to do? Teachers aren’t teaching to classrooms of kids, preachers aren’t preaching to a room full of sinners. Are any of us really doing what we are made to do? Ultimately, it begs the questions, “What are we made to do?”. 

Our single purpose in life can be found in Genesis in the life of the first couple. From the time Adam and Eve first walked in the Garden of Eden, worship has tiptoed on a tightrope between lifestyle and liturgy. When God walked in the Garden with His first children in the cool of the day, Adam and Eve worshiped Him as we should—without interruption. The Creator and His creatures experienced a continual, ongoing exchange of provision and praise. God provided everything Adam and Eve needed, and they responded with praise, with gratitude, reverence, honor, submission, and holy fear. 

I wonder in this time of quarantine how we can connect to what Adam and Eve had with the Lord. I wonder how it would look if every Christ-follower decided to make this a season of walking with the Lord. We have more time to pray, ponder, and ruminate over the scriptures. We have more time for relationship building with family members. We have more time to dig into who Christ would have us to be; to take up our cross and follow Him.  I wonder what your life would look like if we could take this time to draw into Him. I wonder what our church would look like?