Curveball
Just when we think we've got it figured out...we're off in a completely different direction. Today Gov. Polis announced a statewide stay-at-home order. It's really not much different that what most of us have been doing--staying home except to go for groceries, medicine or other necessary things. It just feels more restrictive because it's an official government order.
So, on a night I thought would be laid-back and relaxed, I found myself on the phone with Pat Downey (Hope's Kitchen) and Father Doug (Grace's Kitchen) and Leah (Sharehouse-meals for seniors) and Laurie (The Bridge Emergency Shelter). After multiple conversations by phone and text, here is the new plan:
The Bridge Emergency Shelter will offer shelter-in-place, 24/7, for guests who wish to stay there. Hope's and Grace's Kitchens will provide lunches for the Bridge guests. Hope's and Grace's (as well as senior meal delivery) will continue to provide free takeaway lunches--including curbside pickup for people who want to stay in their cars. We will continue to feed people until someone officially tells us we can't (we're understanding "essential services" to include food programs). Good Samaritan Food Bank will also remain open Mon-Thurs 12-2pm. The school district will offer takeaway lunches at the Middle School Monday-Friday. These are the ways we will demonstrate the best of the Cortez community--caring for each other--no matter what.
We will still be delivering lunches on Mon-Wed-Fri, so if you'd like to receive those meals, please let Pastor Jean know. Maybe it will help relieve some of the grocery shopping stress...
Anxiety, Fear and Uncertainty are running rampant in these changing and challenging times. Even those of us who think of ourselves as calm people are living with a level of constant mental and emotional stress. I feel it. I know I'm not firing on all cylinders. My brain isn't as sharp as I want it to be. My temper is shorter than I want it to be. And my body seems more tired than it should be at the end of the day. This stuff takes its toll on us! We have to remember to be gentle with ourselves, to forgive ourselves when we forget something or get distracted, and to care for our bodies.
Julian of Norwich was a woman who lived in the mid-1300's, at a time of great social upheaval and at the time of the Black Plague. (sound familiar?) She was near death when the priest came to give her last rites. He handed her a crucifix and told her to focus on Jesus on the cross. Julian did not die, but she did experience a series of phenomenal dreams/visions, where she came to understand the depth of God's love for us. She wrote:
For we are so preciously loved by God that we cannot even comprehend it.
Julian also received a message from Christ that is my "go-to" quote in times of great change and anxiety:
All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.
It is impossible to go through the changes that are happening all around us without experiencing some anxiety, uncertainty and fear. But God gives us promises of comfort and confidence and hope--in scripture--and in the words of a 14th century mystic who received the message God most wants us to hear in this crazy time: All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.
Psalm 131
Lord, my heart is not proud, nor are my eyes fixed on things beyond me.
In the quiet, I have stilled my soul, like a child at rest on its mother's knee.
I have stilled my soul completely.
O Israel, come and hope in your Lord, from this time forth and forevermore.
Peace and all good,
Pastor Jean
So, on a night I thought would be laid-back and relaxed, I found myself on the phone with Pat Downey (Hope's Kitchen) and Father Doug (Grace's Kitchen) and Leah (Sharehouse-meals for seniors) and Laurie (The Bridge Emergency Shelter). After multiple conversations by phone and text, here is the new plan:
The Bridge Emergency Shelter will offer shelter-in-place, 24/7, for guests who wish to stay there. Hope's and Grace's Kitchens will provide lunches for the Bridge guests. Hope's and Grace's (as well as senior meal delivery) will continue to provide free takeaway lunches--including curbside pickup for people who want to stay in their cars. We will continue to feed people until someone officially tells us we can't (we're understanding "essential services" to include food programs). Good Samaritan Food Bank will also remain open Mon-Thurs 12-2pm. The school district will offer takeaway lunches at the Middle School Monday-Friday. These are the ways we will demonstrate the best of the Cortez community--caring for each other--no matter what.
We will still be delivering lunches on Mon-Wed-Fri, so if you'd like to receive those meals, please let Pastor Jean know. Maybe it will help relieve some of the grocery shopping stress...
Anxiety, Fear and Uncertainty are running rampant in these changing and challenging times. Even those of us who think of ourselves as calm people are living with a level of constant mental and emotional stress. I feel it. I know I'm not firing on all cylinders. My brain isn't as sharp as I want it to be. My temper is shorter than I want it to be. And my body seems more tired than it should be at the end of the day. This stuff takes its toll on us! We have to remember to be gentle with ourselves, to forgive ourselves when we forget something or get distracted, and to care for our bodies.
Julian of Norwich was a woman who lived in the mid-1300's, at a time of great social upheaval and at the time of the Black Plague. (sound familiar?) She was near death when the priest came to give her last rites. He handed her a crucifix and told her to focus on Jesus on the cross. Julian did not die, but she did experience a series of phenomenal dreams/visions, where she came to understand the depth of God's love for us. She wrote:
For we are so preciously loved by God that we cannot even comprehend it.
Julian also received a message from Christ that is my "go-to" quote in times of great change and anxiety:
All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.
It is impossible to go through the changes that are happening all around us without experiencing some anxiety, uncertainty and fear. But God gives us promises of comfort and confidence and hope--in scripture--and in the words of a 14th century mystic who received the message God most wants us to hear in this crazy time: All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.
Psalm 131
Lord, my heart is not proud, nor are my eyes fixed on things beyond me.
In the quiet, I have stilled my soul, like a child at rest on its mother's knee.
I have stilled my soul completely.
O Israel, come and hope in your Lord, from this time forth and forevermore.
Peace and all good,
Pastor Jean
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