[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.22″ transparent_background=”off” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_has_shadow=”on” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”750px” make_fullwidth=”off” use_custom_width=”on” width_unit=”on” custom_width_px=”750px”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_button button_url=”http:\/\/sangabpres.org\/?page_id=3027″ button_text=”Return to Reflections” button_alignment=”right” _builder_version=”3.16″ custom_button=”on” button_text_size=”14″ button_text_color=”#e09900″ button_border_color=”#e09900″ background_layout=”dark” button_letter_spacing_hover=”0″ button_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”on” button_letter_spacing__hover=”0″ button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_button][et_pb_post_title categories=”off” comments=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.87″ parallax_effect=”off” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”3.23.4″ height=”4px” hide_on_mobile=”on”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.4″ header_font=”|on|||” header_font_size=”66px” header_line_height=”1.7em” text_orientation=”justified” max_width=”750px” hover_enabled=”0″ use_border_color=”off”]<\/p>\n
This last week I kind of hit a wall in the Coronavirus marathon.\u00a0 (Yes, in case anyone is wondering, dealing with this pandemic is a marathon, not a sprint.)<\/p>\n
Even as I begin this new week, I am still fatigued by the prior week.\u00a0 Nothing bad, and in fact I\u2019m trying to figure out what is tiring me the most.\u00a0 It could be the fact that for the first time, the meeting schedule approached a pre-pandemic meeting schedule\u2014and Zoom meetings exhaust me!\u00a0 I don\u2019t know why, but I know that three Zoom meetings in a day is my max.\u00a0 It could be that I preached for the first time on Zoom, which wasn\u2019t as traumatic as I feared, but still preaching does take time for preparation (more than many in the congregation realize!).<\/p>\n
I\u2019m also aware that leadership during this time of great uncertainty is tiring.\u00a0 We all want to know what is ahead of us, and we would like advance notice so we can prepare for it.\u00a0 The problem is, we don\u2019t know what is ahead of us, and we certainly have no idea on the timeline for implementation.\u00a0 We are all part of a huge game of dominos, and nearly all of us play some part in receiving and relaying the news.\u00a0 It\u2019s exhausting to keep tracking the news because others are seeking guidance from us, whether they are church members, children, employees, or friends.<\/p>\n
Even the County officials shared how they are constrained by State regulations.\u00a0 In fact, it was at a County telebriefing that I realized that Governor Newsom issued an update<\/a> on May 7.\u00a0 It seems that he, in turn, was responding to challenges from rural counties who were resisting the State plan for reopening which was given on April 28.\u00a0 So Newsom allowed for a county to relax the State requirements, as long as they can attest to the following:<\/p>\n Just the first requirement is a show-stopper.\u00a0 Los Angeles County has been averaging 40 or more deaths per day for several weeks.\u00a0 But then Newsom hinted that the statewide limitations may be lifted sooner than we think.\u00a0 Hence the exhaustion\u2014mind-boggling statistics, followed by ever-changing messages.<\/p>\n As mentioned, the County is following State regulations, and we have to follow County regulations.\u00a0 So the County pointed at the State when confirming that church services\u2014even opening the church office or having any gathering (except for 12-step or therapeutic groups), indoors or outdoors\u2014are classified as Stage 3.\u00a0<\/p>\n Even when the State allows in-person worship, there will be specific requirements that have to be met, including occupancy kept to 25-50%, easy access to hand sanitizer or handwashing stations, masks available if anyone arrives without one, proper physical distancing, regular cleaning of common areas, proper signage instructing people of the requirements, and\u2014this one is new\u2014registration of all attendees.\u00a0 Church gatherings (including funerals and choir rehearsals) have been the source of several hotspots around the nation, so even when people are eventually allowed into gatherings in the building, the church will be expected to keep records of who attends, for possible contact tracing in case an attendee tests positive for the virus.<\/p>\n It is easy to become overwhelmed with the uncertainty, the new learnings we keep stumbling on (like now there may be a serious delayed response to the virus in children, in very rare cases), the new requirements, and the suspended grieving as we are unable to hold funerals as usual or visit with our ailing or elderly family members and friends.\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s times when we are overwhelmed that we can take comfort in remembering that all of this does not fall on our shoulders.\u00a0 We have our place, but we are in the care and guidance of Jesus the Christ, who loves us more than we can understand.\u00a0 We learn what we can, but our wisdom will never approach the wisdom of God, who sees this \u201cmarathon\u201d through the lens of eternity.\u00a0 And we have our power, but it is miniscule compared to the power of the Holy Spirit\u2014power that comforts and heals, teaches and challenges and empowers.\u00a0<\/p>\n We are all going through this time of isolation and quiet, confusion and fear, in different ways and with different rhythms, so you may be in a very different place than I am this week.\u00a0 That\u2019s fine.\u00a0 All I can suggest is that you\u2019re all right.\u00a0 Be gentle and forgiving with yourself, as Jesus is gentle and forgiving with you.\u00a0 And remember that you can always let someone know if and when you need help.\u00a0 Call your pastor, or friend, or me, or one of several hotlines if you need to talk or have questions.\u00a0 Call 2-1-1 if you need help or a referral for a service, such as help with domestic violence questions, or if you\u2019re a senior who would like nutritious meals delivered to your home each day through the \u201cGreat Plates Delivered<\/a>\u201d program.\u00a0 That program is a perfect example of how your asking for help gives others (like underused restaurants) something to do!\u00a0 So we\u2019re all interconnected.<\/p>\n\n