“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, hears my words, and acts on them. That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house.”
- Luke 6: 46-49 (NRSV)
With our society beginning to reopen, so begins the process of reflection, a time to question, to discern, to reevaluate our decisions throughout this pandemic, both societally and personally. However, this time should not be used to admonish the other or ourselves. Rather, I invite you to discover how we can become more faithful humans. In this vein of thought, let me begin by asking the one simple question: where was your foundation? Does your house still stand, or did it fall against the river of Covid-19?
Similarly, will the house of our American society remain standing after this storm? To put it another way, what was our society’s foundation throughout this pandemic? To answer this query though, let us look at what was deemed an “essential” business and what was not.
In Maine, liquor stores and Marijuana retailers were deemed “essential” from the beginning; yet, stores which offer spiritual guidance like Enchantments, places of spiritual comfort like beeches, and the thousands of Holy places like churches were considered “non-essential.” What does this truth tell you about our foundation in Maine?
Furthermore, hairdressers and rural restaurants could reopen early due to political pressure. Yet, houses of worship were required to remain closed. Where is the foundation for these choices by our leadership?
Mind you, this reality is not all encompassing. Not all towns have agreed with those restrictions and some provided leeway to the rules if proper social distancing was adhered too. Still by virtue of the restrictions alone, Maine society is promoting a foundation based on anything but faith.
Closer to home, let me ask why did you choose to stay away from church, choose to step away from an “essential” job at a gas station, choose to enter self-isolation? Or, why did you choose to continue working, choose to change jobs, choose to risk your life and the lives of people you love? What is your foundation? Is it built on the rock of faith or only on the land?
Only you can answer that question; but, I pray that your choices over these past weeks were based on the foundation of God who calls us all to “love your Neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). For, it is only through our faith in God, through the building of our houses on stone, through the foundation of love that we can withstand the storms which will come.
-Comforting God we pray to you who carries us through the storm. Remind us now that you are our foundation in all things, in all deeds, in all words so we may be faithfully guided when the storms darken our sky. Amen.
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