Asking the Lord to lift the coronavirus cloud

Lord, lift the COVID cloud that hides
what we too long have been denied…
a meal with friends, a loved one’s hug
and seeing someone’s face.

Lord, may the vaccine stop the spread
and end the spike of daily dead.
Please give us strength to work the plan
our leaders have put forth.

For those who grieve, we pray Your peace
while pleading this pandemic cease.
And as we trust Your unseen hand,
we reach in faith to You. Amen.

Fasten your seatbelts for an unforgettable adventure

Welcome aboard Flight 2021.
On behalf of our Captain
and the entire crew of New Creation Airlines,
I’d like to invite you to sit back and enjoy
the adventure that awaits.
We are anticipating an on-time departure and a smooth ride.
In preparation for takeoff,
please make sure that your seatbelt is fastened
and that your expectations for the coming year
are in their upright and locked position.

You are invited to stow any baggage
you’ve carried on-board at this time.
This is your opportunity to let go of
whatever fears, distractions or attitudes
that would keep you from making the most
of this unforgettable journey.

The face coverings you were issued prior to boarding
are more than a souvenir of our trip.
They should be worn at all times
during the duration of the flight.
They are a somber reminder
of our vulnerability as passengers on this journey
we call Life.

Kindly turn off all devices that
would prove distractive
or interfere with the Captain’s ability
to communicate with you.
Please make sure your communication systems
are in their prayer plane mode.

Due to COVID restrictions,
food and beverage service will be limited.
But as your travel documents advised prior to boarding,
you are encouraged to drink freely
from the Living Water
and nourish your souls
with the Bread of Life.

Those of you seated near the window
are invited to look out and enjoy
the beauty of God’s creation.
From our cruising altitude
you likely will be able to take note
of the distance we’ve traveled
and celebrate how far we’ve come.

Once in flight
you will be able to move about the cabin
and make full use of all that
Flight 2021 has to offer.
But while you are seated,
we ask that you please
keep your seatbelt fastened.
Unexpected turbulence
can occur at any time
and without any notice.

Please feel free to utilize
the printed matter
in the seat pocket in front of you.
The Bible offers both safety instructions
in the event of an emergency
as well as informative reading
that celebrates the faith and achievements
of others who have traveled this itinerary before you.

And don’t hesitate
to press the call button at any time.
Your wellbeing
is our Captain’s primary concern.
Your comments and suggestions
are always welcome.

What was it the Lord told the Children of Israel
when their flight home was detoured and delayed in Babylon?

“I know the plans I have for you.
They are plans for good and not for evil,
to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

Reflections on the insurrection in Washington D.C.

From where Abe sits
he has an unobstructed view of our democracy.
The war memorials in his line of sight
picture the priceless cost of freedom.
The Washington Monument elegantly points toward a God
who has repeatedly blessed our undeserving nation.
At the end of the mall
our beloved Capitol stands tall
shimmering in the sunlight
hovering over a nation
known by law and order.

But today our sixteenth President
winces in pain
as he witnesses a scene
familiar to other regimes
throughout history
but foreign to our beloved land.

Insurrection some have called it.
A dereliction of civic duty and patriotic pride.
A disgrace unbecoming law-abiding citizens
who have forgotten their heritage and pledge.
Such wanton madness is applauded by extremists
and quietly supported by those who set the bait
and cowardly watch from palatial venues of power.

What Honest Abe sees causes him to weep.
Such a dishonest distortion of First Amendment rights
is nothing short of wrong.

Lord, have mercy!

Looking back and looking forward

This New Year’s Eve, we pause to grieve
before we look ahead.
The year gone by (I cannot lie)
was marked by death and dread.

First Kobe died and then we cried
because George couldn’t breathe.
We held our breath with hopes his death
would not be disbelieved.

Black Lives replied and then decried
injustice masked too long.
Protests took shape and so did hate
with wrong replacing wrong.

And COVID spread as Fauci led
the charge to stem the tide.
He gave us tasks and we wore masks
but sadly countless died.

Hurricanes would be the blame
for costly devastation.
And fires raged largely uncaged.
A hellish conflagration.

The virus leapt while widows wept
and closed our schools and churches.
We worked from home and used our phones
to order what we purchased.

As jobs were lost, the COVID cost
kept mounting without peaking.
The lines for food and work pursued
drove desperate souls to drinking.

The White House race proved a disgrace.
Our country was divided.
We bled and bled both blue and red.
Our unity was blighted.

It’s been some year. Both hope and fear
have occupied our hearts.
The vaccine gift gave us a lift
just as a new year starts.

May ’21 before it’s done
be filled with joy, dear Lord.
May lives be spared and homes repaired
and needed jobs restored.

May faith grow strong, so too the song
that praises God for blessings.
And may it be the year to see
our grateful hearts expressing
a love of life, disdain for strife
and dreams for which we’re longing.
A world where health and honest wealth
finds everyone belonging.