Jesus spoke to them saying, “Can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not worry!” Matthew 6: 27-31a
My daughter Cori presents me with a bouquet of dandelions every day I come home if there are any to pick. She goes out of her way to gift me with them. Sometimes they are fresh and she asks me to tuck them behind my ear and tells me I am beautiful. Other times they are a shriveled clump laying in wait on the table. She is proud of these gifts. I know I am not the only mother blessed with these simple acts of love.
Looking at the dandelion, I feel love. I know this is not the case for everyone. Many of you see a noxious weed that challenges the integrity of your lawn. You spend countless hours working to rid your space of them. I also know a few of you who collect the plant and add sugar and water allowing it to ferment then bottling a beautifully clear wine. Some of you enjoy the peppery taste of the greens in salads. The dandelion is one plant that produces reactions as quickly as it spreads its seed.
Perception is a powerful thing. This season we have been moving through has presented our world with challenges beyond comprehension. We struggle with how to navigate a world where a virus rages. Some believe we needn’t worry, others are anxious to leave the comfort of their homes. The question of the virus and how to manage it has become a political one. The opinions are many. Over the last weeks, I have seen neighbors dismiss one another. I have seen neighbors mock one another. I have seen neighbors in tears because they simply don’t know what tomorrow will bring. How are we called to move through this day and into the next loving and caring for one another in times of such uncertainty?
I believe that many of the challenges we face come from a place of fear. When faced with situations out of our control, we grasp desperately at that which we can manage. We cope by ignoring, dismissing, and manipulating. We use words and actions to try to give ourselves the illusion that we are not subject to anyone. Yet if we blaze forward asserting our will, we loose the fundamental gift of who we are.
Our first parents fell into sin when they desired to be like God knowing good from evil. There is power in the belief we are in a place of judgement over our neighbors. We may reason, “I am right and how can I not let my neighbors know what I know?” What our first parents and we so often fail to remember is that when God decided to be our God, we had very little choice in the decision. When Jesus reminds us of the beauty of the lilies of the field, I hear it as a call to remember the great variety and wonder of the world that God has created. I hear it as an invitation to imagine a world diverse and glorious where all God’s children are beautifully and wonderfully made. I hear it as an admonition to stop before passing judgement over my neighbors and a call to love my brothers and sisters in Christ. Perhaps even to see that all reactions to this season have merit if we listen, if we understand that while our feelings may be true for us, they are not true for those around us.
This month, we are moving forward with reopening the congregations of the Goodridge Area Lutheran Parish to in-person worship. Some have expressed the opinion that this is long overdue. Others that it is too soon. Some don’t know what to think. In-person worship is being added to our current opportunities, not replacing them. I hear and understand some of you are not ready to come back. I ask for your patience as we begin to gather again as God’s people. Worship will not be “normal”. We will be physically distance from one another. We will wear face coverings. We will refrain from sharing the peace, passing an offering plate, speaking aloud our prayers and singing. Our plans will continue to be evaluated as we try to make the best decisions for all worshippers.
God’s desire for humanity was for us to be loved and to love. We are being called to respond to one another in love not judgement. Jesus reminds us again and again that as God has loved us, we are to love one another. Kindness doesn’t cost anything. We can also listen and seek to understand where our neighbor’s hearts and minds are. When a neighbor says they aren’t comfortable gathering in our sanctuaries, please hear them. Finally, we can learn to speak of our neighbor’s actions in the kindest way. If we take a moment and understand that we are moving through this season together and trying to make the best of some very difficult decisions, I believe we build one another up in hope and care.
The good news for us today is God has us in God’s hands. As our Lord clothed the lilies of the field, so God cares for us. God will give us what we need today. We may worry about tomorrow but nothing is added to our lives by doing so. Today I am grateful for the gifts of Cori’s dandelion bouquets. Today I am grateful for health and life. Today I am grateful for your work and witness. We are called, beloved of God. May you know the grace and mercy of God in your life. May your worries be set aside in the name of hope and praise.
Kristin Ostercamp, Pastor
