A little over a year ago, my sister went into hospice care and the world shut down with the virus. In short order, life changed for us all. Consequently, I was forced to re-evaluate everything I once thought important. These circumstances shook me to the point that all unessential elements fell out. In the end, three indispensable lifelines remained: faith, family and friends. Like a strand of three cords, this trio intertwined in solidarity to hold me together and give me strength for the tumultuous journey.
Jesus understood the immeasurable worth of these assets. When a teacher of the law asked Him which commandment was the greatest, he replied:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.
Jesus’ words from Matthew 22: 37-40 NIV
Relationships with God and people form a solid foundation when all other worldly valuables wash away. As the pandemic closed churches and isolated people from each other, I realized how much I missed these interactions. Through internet worship, Zoom meetings and text messages, we kept in contact as much as possible. My prayer life soared during this period as I lifted others up to the Lord who suffered much more than me. God’s Spirit moved within our midst in mighty ways.
When my daughter-in-law went for an emergency C-section with my first grandson, I called on my women’s Bible Study group to pray. The peace of God that surpasses all understanding filled me during that harrowing thirty minutes as I waited with my son on the phone. Even though space separated us, the Spirit connected our souls like an invisible web, offering comfort and calm.
This same interconnection prevailed during my sister’s illness. Although our prayers weren’t answered in the way we wanted, a blanket of peace surrounded us. Simple acts of kindness lavished on Beth and the whole family, lifted us during this painful time. Relationships carried us through the ordeal.
I can’t overestimate the power of community. Often people malign the church for its failures without regard to its benefit to society. It’s important to recognize the church is an institution made up of broken people joined together by the Spirit of God. We are far from perfect but strive daily to emulate our Savior, Jesus. Carrying out the two greatest commandments is our way of following Him in a world full of division and strife. Loving God and loving each other while remaining intertwined in solidarity with Faith, Family and Friends is the ultimate goal.
How we reach this objective is varied and creative. For my family’s part, we plan to honor my sister on April 24 by participating in the Sarcoma Stomp, an event supporting research to end the devastating cancer that shortened her life. If Beth was here, she would be organizing the whole thing and leading the pack. Her spirit will walk with us, I’m sure. Together with faithful friends, we’ll stand in solidarity passing on Beth’s legacy of love to the world. Faith, Family and Friends give us strength to go on, approaching the future calmly and with confidence.
Two people are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him-a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV
