For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Romans 8:24-25
An absolute
patience.
Trees stand
up to their knees in
fog. The fog
slowly flows
uphill.
White
cobwebs, the grass
leaning where deer
have looked for apples.
The woods
from brook to where
the top of the hill looks
over the fog, send up
not one bird.
So absolute, it is
no other than
happiness itself, a breathing
too quiet to hear.
~Denise Levertov “The Breathing”
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
Psalm 130: 5-6 from a Song of Ascents
Waiting is essential to the spiritual life. But waiting as a disciple of Jesus is not an empty waiting. It is a waiting with a promise in our hearts that makes already present what we are waiting for. We wait during Advent for the birth of Jesus. We wait after Easter for the coming of the Spirit, and after the ascension of Jesus we wait for his coming again in glory. We are always waiting, but it is a waiting in the conviction that we have already seen God’s footsteps.
— Henri Nouwen from Bread For The Journey: A Daybook of Wisdom and Faith
The world’s people wait impatiently: sheltering at home, watching jobs and savings dissipate, feeling wholly isolated, praying this plague will bypass our doorsteps and fade away.
The hard part is not knowing how long we must wait for life to feel safe and normal again (as if it ever was!). We want our reprieve, our salvation now.
Yet we can have certainty that eventually all will be well. We have seen His footprints beside us and His Word is spoken with a quiet breath.
He is here among us.
So shall we persevere together, with patience, watching and hoping –
a community groaning together in sweet expectation of the morning.
This year’s Lenten theme for Barnstorming:
God sees us as we are,
loves us as we are,
and accepts us as we are.
But by His grace,
He does not leave us where we are.
~Tim Keller
Barnstorming 
In 2019 I waited for a fractured wrist to heal followed by PT.
I waited for a lumpectomy and the radiation treatments to come to an end.
I waited for a fractured shoulder to heal followed by PT.
I thought I had learned much and often said only by the grace of God.
I was hoping 2020 would be a better year.
It is worse than last year,
The whole world has fallen into disarray.
We are told to stay in our houses. Was voluntary. Now mandatory.
My father is in personal care. It’s day 16 that he has had no visitors.
I used to be there most days.
He can’t go to dining room most days.
They go in smaller groups and have the opportunity about every 3 days.
Less exercise, socialization, abd the day drags on in his room alons.
My nephew said…like solitary confinement.
I Googled solitary confinement.
After 15 days there may be psychological challenges as a result.
We are in day 16.
When this whole thing started I said probably the old will not die of the virus, but depression and a broken heart.
Can you tell I am having a bad day. I.ve been trying to keep active.
Rainy day. No exercise. No QiGong. No shower.
Yuck to this whole corona virus.
I think we need to repent and ask God for His mercy.
USofA has squandered much.
We have been forced to stop and be with family.
Some of us have been forced to not see family.
My go to verse in 2019 was Hebrews 10:23.
My verse for 2020 Hebrews 11:1
Thank you for listening to my rant.
Linda
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Linda, praying for you today; you have enough heartbreak to last a lifetime. Let God’s mercy be the glue to patch you up. Love from Emily
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Today was a better day.
I read devotionals, exercised, did QiGong, went for a walk, talked to several friends, and attended live streaming church services. I need to keep a routine. I need to get up and shower and pretend I have someplace to go.
Got the word tonight we are to continue this shelter in place until April 30. I looked at the calendar and said to myself…OMG.
I need to focus on today.
Please pray for the daughter of a friend. She works in a nursing home. They have 4 patients who have tested positive and Kristy is now working on that floor. Many prayers needed for the many, many healthcare workers.
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