Sunday Musings – March 15, 2020
Just a week ago many of us were busy adjusting to the beginning of daylight savings time. Although we were certainly aware of the coronavirus and the fact that its visit would increasingly affect our lives in these United States last Sunday was fairly routine. There was very little talk of school and church closings. The stock market has yet to react to a series of events happening in many parts of the world and few people in the United States were preparing to hoard available supplies of such items as toilet paper. Even by Tuesday when I attended a lecture at the Ohio County Library and Wednesday when I attended a symposium sponsored by the local Tuberculosis Association there was a sense of normalcy although there was, among some, an appreciation for the extent of the affect the coronavirus was to have on life in these United States. By Friday many public events such as symphony performances, plays, conferences and many other events were being canceled. School closing were announced and many were apparently preparing for the rapture. Their primary concern seemed to be to ensure that they had clean houses and bodies. Toilet paper and cleaning supplies flew off the shelf ensuring that many would be found wanting when the rapture comes. To be sure, no one wants to run out of toilet paper, especially if one is lucky enough to enjoy the wonders of indoor plumbing. It also make good sense to have supplies to ensure most surfaces are kept free of potential viral germs. Yet, it was obvious that many were convinced that the rapture selection committee criteria were to be who could be the most self-centered and hoard the most. Stories related to these actions made for many Saturday Night Live type jokes and provided comic relief for many. Yet, if one looked carefully many were sharing time, money, and supplies with neighbors. As school closings were announced neighbors were volunteering to help with child care. For those whose habit it was to pray to a God of their understanding, prayer became an action word.
My Grandma Fannie, if viewing the scene from her eternal home in the universe, is surely smiling. If living she would have had the continuously refilling coffee pot on. The actions of the Jesus of the New Testament would have seemed minor compared to her ability to feed hundreds, if not more, from one loaf of bread and one chicken. I would, even as child, be awed by her ability to feed and offer coffee to all who stopped to visit for as long as they visited. I was perfectly aware that money was in short supply since there was secrecy about one’s fiancés. There was no shame to not being able to compete with those who had the big house on the hill overlooking the homes of the lesser ones. Grandma in her homemade dress using her dish towels made from feed or flour sacks demanded that every day be one of gratitude and sharing; that if one was lucky enough to have some books, music, a radio and some pretty things one did not hoard them or hold them up as a symbol of one’s eliteness.
Of course, not everyone was able to understand and accept that all people are equally deserving of all the resources. Even then, here was hoarding, crime and all the “sins” of excess and self-centeredness that are present today. It was not even close to a perfect world. Yet, just as there are today, there were people such as Grandma Fannie trusting the miracles of the never empty coffee pot or pantry.
My prayer is that today I trust in such miracles; that I honor the faith of Grandma Fannie and all who know that one loaf will always feed the multitude.
Written March 15, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
Just a week ago many of us were busy adjusting to the beginning of daylight savings time. Although we were certainly aware of the coronavirus and the fact that its visit would increasingly affect our lives in these United States last Sunday was fairly routine. There was very little talk of school and church closings. The stock market has yet to react to a series of events happening in many parts of the world and few people in the United States were preparing to hoard available supplies of such items as toilet paper. Even by Tuesday when I attended a lecture at the Ohio County Library and Wednesday when I attended a symposium sponsored by the local Tuberculosis Association there was a sense of normalcy although there was, among some, an appreciation for the extent of the affect the coronavirus was to have on life in these United States. By Friday many public events such as symphony performances, plays, conferences and many other events were being canceled. School closing were announced and many were apparently preparing for the rapture. Their primary concern seemed to be to ensure that they had clean houses and bodies. Toilet paper and cleaning supplies flew off the shelf ensuring that many would be found wanting when the rapture comes. To be sure, no one wants to run out of toilet paper, especially if one is lucky enough to enjoy the wonders of indoor plumbing. It also make good sense to have supplies to ensure most surfaces are kept free of potential viral germs. Yet, it was obvious that many were convinced that the rapture selection committee criteria were to be who could be the most self-centered and hoard the most. Stories related to these actions made for many Saturday Night Live type jokes and provided comic relief for many. Yet, if one looked carefully many were sharing time, money, and supplies with neighbors. As school closings were announced neighbors were volunteering to help with child care. For those whose habit it was to pray to a God of their understanding, prayer became an action word.
My Grandma Fannie, if viewing the scene from her eternal home in the universe, is surely smiling. If living she would have had the continuously refilling coffee pot on. The actions of the Jesus of the New Testament would have seemed minor compared to her ability to feed hundreds, if not more, from one loaf of bread and one chicken. I would, even as child, be awed by her ability to feed and offer coffee to all who stopped to visit for as long as they visited. I was perfectly aware that money was in short supply since there was secrecy about one’s fiancés. There was no shame to not being able to compete with those who had the big house on the hill overlooking the homes of the lesser ones. Grandma in her homemade dress using her dish towels made from feed or flour sacks demanded that every day be one of gratitude and sharing; that if one was lucky enough to have some books, music, a radio and some pretty things one did not hoard them or hold them up as a symbol of one’s eliteness.
Of course, not everyone was able to understand and accept that all people are equally deserving of all the resources. Even then, here was hoarding, crime and all the “sins” of excess and self-centeredness that are present today. It was not even close to a perfect world. Yet, just as there are today, there were people such as Grandma Fannie trusting the miracles of the never empty coffee pot or pantry.
My prayer is that today I trust in such miracles; that I honor the faith of Grandma Fannie and all who know that one loaf will always feed the multitude.
Written March 15, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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