From the Pastor's Pen

Pastor Sally’s Devotional 6/30

| June 30, 2020

Dear Friends,

I read an interesting article in the Washington Post today that I found on our Presbytery’s resources Facebook page.  The article was called, How to stand your ground on social distancing, without alienating family and friends.   (Click on the link for the article)  The article talks about how difficult it is to manage relationships and communicate your love and caring for others when you disagree with them about what’s safe.  Some of you have felt the stress of having to turn down a friend or family’s member’s invitation to a dinner or grad party or Fourth of July barbeque because you’re not ready to go out yet.  Still others have had your feelings hurt when invitations have been turned down because someone isn’t sure they will be safe in your company!

The author of the above, Jenna Jonaitis, observes, “We have different personalities, different tolerances for risk and different situations that alter our chances of spreading or contracting the virus and determine how seriously it might affect us.”  I think Ms. Jonaitis is correct.  We have long affirmed in the church that we are different people, each with our own unique gifts and personalities, each with our own story that informs the decisions we make.  The challenge is to remember that each person gets to make their own decision about their own safety… as long as they don’t put someone else in danger.  That’s part of what it means to live in community.  We can’t endanger others by our actions.

Mr. Jonaitis has some great advice about how to listen to your own needs and figure out what you are personally comfortable with when it comes to precautions in these coronavirus times.  She also has some suggestions for how to have conversation with your friends and loved ones when you have to set unpopular boundaries.

These are stressful times and they call for mutual respect and love as we each navigate our own needs for personal safety and make decisions about what we believe is right for us at this time.

Peace,

Pr. Sally

 

In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.  Matt 7:12

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