Re-Entering Society

A Journal During the Coronovirus Pandemic
Reflections and Inspiration from Maple Grove
June 14, 2020

While taking a walk this week, we happened upon a mother duck guarding her brood of 15 ducklings.  Ducks will typically lay a clutch of 10-15 eggs, so this mama had a full nest. The mother duck leads her brood out of the nest about 10 hours after being hatched.  From the appearance of these little ones, I would guess this was their first time out, a very hazardous time for them. She was patiently guarding them while we paused to admire and take photos.

By the time we made a loop around the pond, Mama Duck had begun to lead the ducklings to the water's edge. With their mother's guidance and training, they will learn how to swim and what to eat very quickly, but they will not be able to fly for another 50-70 days.  They are very vulnerable in these early weeks, so they stay very close to their mother and trust her to protect them.

It is the second week of June and the 13th week since the stay-at-home order was given. This was an exciting week for us, because we were able to return to church for the first time and receive the Lord's Supper, Holy Communion.  We were all wearing masks and social distancing, but it was so good to be together again in person.  Some people felt vulnerable and were therefore tentative and guarded.  Still, it was so wonderful to be re-entering God's House of Prayer with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

"I was glad when they said unto me, 'Let us go into the House of the Lord'" (Psalm 122:1)

"How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God. . . Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!. . . For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you." (Psalm 84)

O Lord, my God, you are worthy of our thanks and praise, for you guide us and protect us from all that is evil and threatens to destroy us.  It is so wonderful to belong to your family of believers, to be able to gather to receive your gracious gifts of Word and Sacraments. Thank you for your mercy and care during these many weeks of staying at home.  It is a great blessing to be re-entering your House of Worship again. Glory be to You, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.

Links:

St. Luke Worship Service - June 14 2020

Coronavirus Journal:

June 7, 2020 - Sheltering in Place
May 31, 2020 - All the Colors of the Rainbow
May 24, 2020 - Growing Vertically and Horizontally
May 17, 2020 - God Bless America
May 10, 2020 - Cleaning and Repairing Cluckingham Palace
May 3, 2020 - Be a Child
April 26, 2020 - Serve a Very Cheery Pie
April 19, 2020 - Waiting and Waiting
April 12, 2020 - Planting for New Growth
April 5, 2020 - The Grass is Always Greener
March 29, 2020 - Stay at Home
March 22, 2020 - Look Beyond the Challenge

Other Devotions by Katie:

Pea Gravel
Red Sky at Night