With COVID-19 in 2020, It’s Still Advent, and It Will Still Be Christmas
by Edith Guffey
Conference Minister
I don’t need “Facebook Memories” to remind me that this time last year Jerry and I were leaving Kansas for the rest of the year. We took off for a cruise, and after 7 days in the Caribbean, docked in Southern California. We were picked up by our youngest son Michael who lives in the area. We were later joined by our oldest, Bryan, who flew in from Ohio, and Tay, now Michael’s fiancée. We spent Christmas together in Carlsbad, not far from San Diego, where we just enjoyed being together, watched way too much basketball for my taste, enjoyed great food, especially Christmas dinner cooked by Tay and Michael and as is tradition, went to the movies and saw the newest release of Star Wars. Even though my travel afforded us the luxury of seeing each other fairly often, being together on Christmas still didn’t happen often, so it was a special treat.
We didn’t realize last year just how special our four days together would be. Today over 300,000 people have died from COVID-19. Over 2,000 deaths each in both Kansas and Oklahoma. Deaths in much larger states like California and Ohio are staggering. There are long lines at food pantries, jobless rates are soaring, and more people are homeless with the numbers growing every day. Depending on where you are on the economic spectrum, your family may be stretched to and beyond the limit. Your family may be managing fairly well with some worries but holding it together; or your family may be fortunate enough to be functioning pretty much as usual. Everyone is functioning with a real sense of loss and isolation, and the economic impact is more dire for some than others. There is generally more collective and societal pain than I have ever witnessed during the holiday season.
I suspect that by now you might be saying that this isn’t a very uplifting Christmas message from our Conference Minister! And you know, it isn’t. But it is; maybe. Because in spite of it all, I simply want to remind you of what you already know; despite what you read on your screens and tablets or hear on the news; Christmas is coming. While we will miss being together with family and friends, in our sanctuaries; Christmas is coming. And there are and have already been signs that God is at work in our midst even while COVID-19 is taking its toll on our communities, our families, our hearts, our very souls.
When I was a kid, I used to pray for God to show me a sign; something I could SEE so I would know FOR SURE that God was REALLY and TRULY THERE. I wanted concrete, irrefutable proof of God’s presence. I wanted a sign that no one could argue with. I’m 60-something, and I’m still waiting for that! But if you believe that God uses all of us ordinary people day in and day out as instruments of love, peace, joy and hope; then this Advent especially there are plenty of reasons to see and experience God at work. How about the heroic efforts of nurses and doctors and aides and emergency workers who care for the sick? Maybe it’s the chaplains who are in hospitals and nursing homes day in and day out caring for patients and the spirits of staff and who themselves go home with exhausted spirits wondering if they can go back even one more day. What about the scientists who have used their incredible gifts to develop a vaccine and all of those who will combine their skills to deliver and administer it? Or teachers who continue to make a difference as they juggle teaching virtually and in person. What about those that make our day to day lives work; those who are often invisible to us, but without them our lives wouldn’t work; we depend on all those who support every segment of our society. There are those in every profession where their work is a job, and for others it’s a ministry; you can usually tell the difference. They are the ones that remind us of God’s presence especially during this season of Advent; especially this year.
I am not a health care worker or chaplain and I never had the patience to be a teacher. And I am not a low wage worker who toils unappreciated and worries if their next paycheck is going to make ends meet. I grew up in that family so I know what that’s like. I know how important it is for those of us who can to find a way to embody hope, peace, joy and love. Jerry and I are among those that are fortunate enough to have plenty; the real needs of our family are minimal. I am grateful that our adult children are healthy, we have warm and safe places to live, we are all still employed and our pantries are over stocked. Our lives have been disrupted like everyone else’s but we have not suffered; so far no one in our family has died. We are grateful and can afford to give more generously to those in need than we ever have before. That’s our plan. The need is so great; if you are in the same situation as we are, I encourage you to give as well, to KO, to your local church, to your community food bank, your homeless shelter; wherever. I know the gift will be appreciated and will be a sign of hope, joy, love and maybe even peace wherever it goes.
I want to end with something I saw on TV that made me smile. I have written so much this year about race and very little has made me (and maybe you) smile, so let’s end with something that does! You may have seen this article in the Washington Post or on the news. This isn’t the real title, but I’ve re-titled it, Changing Hearts and Minds, One Santa At a Time. It gives me hope and maybe spreads a little joy to you as well. Read it here.
May you have a Blessed Christmas.