Lead On Slowly!

May 14, 2020

May 14, 2020

Lead On Slowly!

My wife and I were in a big hurry to plant our vegetable and flower gardens this year.  It probably had to do with a rather severe case of boredom with all the social distancing we are doing these days. 

Although we know that where we live in Nebraska you should not plant gardens until May 15, we jumped ahead and planted closer to May 1. 

Then, last week an arctic cold front blew in.  Night time temperatures dropped into the 20’s for three nights.  We had blankets, plastic tarps, fence posts, a floor mop, and even a couple of green plastic frogs to hold everything in place.

We were in a hurry.  We tried to push Mother Nature and all it accomplished was more work, more anxiety, and more prayer.  Being in a hurry did not produce much of anything that is positive or good or helpful.

I am concerned that hurrying to re-open on-campus worship may work out about as well as planting a garden too early in the Spring…and for many of the same reasons.  If we re-open too soon, it is likely great harm will be done to people about whom we care as well as people who are most vulnerable.

Now is not the time to be in a hurry.  Instead, let’s embrace where the Holy Spirit is moving.  Our First Church family is participating in on-line worship, on-line small groups, and on-line prayer time. 

I am grateful that the on-line presence of First Church has grown in miraculous ways.  If we are faithful in our prayers and our preparations, our on-line presence will continue to grow.  It is not difficult to imagine that the growth in our on-line presence may be faster and further (geographically!) than our on-campus worship will be once we resume.

Now is not the time to be in a hurry.  Now is the time to seek the Father’s wisdom, the Son’s compassion, and the Spirit’s leading.  Our garden does not do well when I try to hurry it along.  And, I am not convinced that hurrying along the Covid-19 virus by re-opening on-campus worship will do well either.

I am reminded of story of twin brothers reconciling after years of conflict.  Esau and Jacob approach one another with the hope of forgiveness.  In Genesis 33:14 Jacob responds to his brother; “…I will lead on slowly, according to the pace of the cattle that are before me and according to the pace of the children…”

Sometimes we need to push ahead in a bold and courageous way; I am good at doing that!  But this is a time that requires a different strategy.  Right now, it is wise to “…lead on slowly…”  Leading on slowly will do the least harm and the most good for First Church and for our city.  Leading on slowly will keep people safe and will honor our Savior, Jesus.

The good news is our gardens made it through the arctic cold blast.  And, the good news is we will come through this pandemic.  To be sure, there be some hard work, some moments of anxiety, and some intense prayer. 

Let’s choose to lead on slowly so Jesus’ love has time to change our lives, Jesus’ forgiveness has time to restore our relationships, and Jesus’ life has time to transform our global family.  That would be a delight!

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug