Blessed

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In pondering how to observe Lent in these weird days, I read The Outlook Lenten devotional for today by Jill Duffield on the words from Matthew 5:3-8. Her words caught me as particularly fitting and relevant. Here are my ponderings from 

Matthew 5:3-8 (NRSV)
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

What is a blessing? My first thought these days is when someone sneezes into their elbow near me, do I still say bless you and mean it, or do I glare and reach for the nearest sanitizer that they have dared to spread their germs in MY space?

There is a Facebook meme going around that says we will be oh so much more thankful for what we are blessed with when we can return to the normal. We will know the blessing of a hug, of daily work, of school classes, of a gathering with friends after a long day, of whatever our normal is - it all has blessings we don’t notice until they are gone.

But that also reminds me that everything is relative. Are we now noticing the blessing of meals with family or roommates, the blessings of amazing technology to feel connected even if we are not face to faced, the blessing of a flower in bloom and the chirps of birds?

We are blessed in many ways, and God is with us in all situations. Do we see it, do we hear God speaking in our social distancing – through the flowers, through the social media, over a phone line , waving at neighbors from a distance with a friendly smile that holds hope for more later, and especially through the gift of time with those under our feet day to day?

Grace and peace to you – my extroverted side would be happy to talk or chat online with anyone feeling lonely and needing reassurance that God is indeed with us transforming us even now in this Lent like no other. Come Holy Jesus. I’ll close today with the lovely prayer by Jill Duffield:
You, God, bless us, with your power to not only be present but to transform our most painful circumstances. Being blessed does not render us immune from suffering. Being blessed offers us a sliver of light through the cracks, a lifeline in tumultuous waters, the assurance that we are more than our circumstances and immeasurably valued by none other than the Most High God. Amen. 

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