BLESSING

“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”
NUMBERS 6:24-26

We do our best to stay healthy, to avoid unnecessary exposure to COVID-19, and yet there are times when those of us who believe and trust in a Higher Power simply must for the sake of sanity sit back and whisper, “Lord, be gracious unto me, shine your face upon me and give me peace.”

Yesterday was one of those days for me.  I volunteered to venture to the grocery store and pick up a few items for a friend who does not drive.  Like me, he is nearly ancient and has a few disabilities.  When I delivered the bread and soup to his house, I tooted the horn and waited outside in my truck.  He came out, stuck his head into my cab through the open passenger window, we chatted briefly and then he coughed into my air space in the truck without bothering to cover his face.

My response was not charitable nor friendly.  “Get your head out of my truck and go away,” I yammered with a few added expletives.

May the Lord forgive me for my words.  But in these times our faith that a Higher Power has got this under control is truly all we have to guide us with grace and peace.  All the precautions, all the masks and safety measures, all the social distancing will avail us nothing unless each of us takes this virus seriously.

Stay at home, be vigilant, and for God’s sake cover your mouth.