Unprecedented Times Equal Unprecedented Opportunities

Before I hit the road this morning to return home from my weekend race, I read my Bob Goff devotional. The devotion was based on the simple scripture above. I thought it was appropriate for this day and for this time in our country. 

On the drive home, I listened to our home church service on line. When it was over, I saw my friend Susie had invited people to listen to her church service online. I was on a church listening roll of sorts, so I clicked on it. 

The first thing the pastor said was "unprecedented times provide unprecedented opportunities." 

Those words, that scripture, something I heard  someone say yesterday at a restaurant - it all came together for me a bit. 

I heard someone say yesterday "what we need right now is Jesus." When I hear that, and it's kind of a churchy thing people say in challenging times like this, sometimes I wonder, well, where did Jesus go? Like, did he pack up and leave and no one told me?

Sometimes I picture us in kind of this praying stalemate with God. Like, we're down here hands clasped saying come get rid of this crazy virus, and God's sitting there, head shaking between his hands saying "would you please just go carry each other's burdens."

Maybe I'm wrong. I'm never one to fully know what God is up to. I do like to imagine, though. 

But this much is a fact. We are in unprecedented times. And - I think there are unprecedented opportunities to carry each other's burdens. I suppose too, if you believe like I do, that Jesus lives in us, maybe that lady at the restaurant was right. Maybe what we all need right now is Jesus.