Growing up I loved books by Gary Paulsen. He wrote about boys and young men in the wild, wrestling with history, or up against great challenges. Recently, I have been sharing this love by reading The Hatchet to my own boys.
In it, Brian wonders what life with his Dad in Northern Canada will be like after living with his Mom in the city. These forward looking thoughts are pierced with the unthinkable reality of a plane crash leaving him in the middle of the wilderness with just what he is wearing, which fortuitously includes a brand new hatchet. The story rolls out with adventures in survival and changing perspectives.
I don’t want to give it all away for it is a great read (and we are not finished yet), but I could not help but think of the story line anew against the backdrop of 2020. Marriages, grand trips, and professional plans are but a few of the many predicates to “I was planning to….” Losses have been abundant, but in this current moment new perceptions and skills are arising for our surviving and hopefully someday thriving. What plans and dreams did you have derailed by the events of the past 5 months? What unknown wildernesses do we find ourselves learning how to survive again?
These have been disorienting times as the information from around the world no longer aligns with what we once knew. Yet all is not lost. Much like Brian is forced to learn new ways and transforms in the process, so also we have an opportunity to learn new ways and grow as a community. Along the way, we might see what God has strapped to our sides for such a time as this. What tools or people which have always been close by have become indispensable this year?
We all have been through a lot and have challenges ahead. Though we may be stewarding different stores through unimagined challenges, Our God abundantly blesses throughout. We do well to remember Moses’ word to the Israelites as they were ending there wilderness journey, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Joseph
Thank you pastor Joe, this all is something i have never gone through all of my 95 years of life. Its been scary to say the least. Still really concerned about future but i only pray things will get better for everybody. I pray people will wake up and start praying for a better country an world. God still controles this world and always will.