Pen-demic

  Oh God, I know you are always with me. You are with me when I rise and with me at the end of the day. Yet, I do not always see or feel you. In times of confusion or uncertainty I want to see signs of your presence. With dismay and sorrow, I witness people commit unjust acts against their sisters and brothers, not recognizing them as such. Each day we are confronted with more hatred and division. We are overwhelmed with incessant false news that deepens our division. Where can I find you in this world of chaos and grief? How can I find you? Are you calling out to us and we just aren’t listening? I remember times of sadness and doubt when your peace surrounded me and gave me hope and strength. How amazing and powerful is your love for us all. We desperately need to feel your love right now. Help us to open our eyes and hearts to the injustice and hatred around us. Create in us a desire to work towards understanding, compassion and reconciliation. Heal us from within so that we can ...

    Sun snuggling closer to earth, Nights blanketing the day. Another season passes Leaves tumbling from the trees, Hummingbirds    have packed their bags. Another season passes Wearing sweaters in the morning, Needing another blanket at night. Another season passes Still isolating from the plague, Missing family celebrations. This season never passes. Wanting to hug church friends, Missing smiles on faces. This season never passes. Trips are cancelled, Lunch with friends on Zoom. This season never passes. Leaders not leading, Hospitals filling up again. This season. . . . .please pass. Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall A year passes JaclynMorgan

  Usually, I choose a puzzle with a photo that makes me happy—maybe a memory, maybe a pretty place or maybe photos of something that gives me pleasure like books, or buttons or sea shells.   Finding the pieces to recreate that happiness is just one of the goals.   First, it’s more fun doing a puzzle with a helper—it teaches families to work together on a common goal. An unfinished puzzle on a table invites others to find that elusive piece. Today, my cleaning lady paused in her dusting and found a piece or two. I love the challenge. I have done puzzles bought at garage sales with no guarantee that all of the pieces are there.  I’ve done puzzles upside down with just the blank side.  I’ve done puzzles with out a box and no picture to guide me.  I’ve also done double sided puzzles.  They’re each a challenge to be conquered. While puzzles require a lot of concentration, it’s a great activity when you have just a few minutes—waiting for someone to get...

  The Maskless Wonders Now that our chief executives and their spouses have demonstrated the hygienic value of wearing masks by spurning them, we can meditate about the symbolism of the “Maskless Wonders.” Both President Donald Trump and his wife, as well as Governor Mike Parsons (Missouri) and his wife have contracted the coronavirus within the past ten days. Whether they are severely stricken is not a political matter.  My prayer is that they are spared severe symptoms. What matters is how their contempt for wearing masks has affected our neglect of this precaution. We know that a public model matters, because the President’s example has spawned national resistance to wearing masks as a precaution against covid. In Missouri we have had vocal protests from citizens of hard-hit Jefferson County, declaring it was a personal freedom to shun masks and brandishing signs stating that Hitler would have dictated such requirements. Apparently it is a kind of free expression to go mask...

  Mother Earth is hurting and in distress.  She cries out in pain,  warning us to stop polluting her body and soul.  Telling us to stop  killing her beloved animals and fish . Causing her body to get warmer and warmer  as her distress grows.   But we don’t listen. We continue to exploit what she has so graciously and lovingly provided  by polluting the air, ground and water.  We disrespect the people around us  causing more pain.   Trying desperately to warn us, s he sends lightening to start fires; tornadoes, dere chos and  hurricanes  to level the buildings  along with  floods  and tidal waves , trying to get us to start over .   Shutting our ears to  her cries of pain, we  rebuild but ignore her lessons as we  continue to pollute her skies with the exhaust of our cars and trucks, trains, planes and machinery. We fill her oce ans with oil spill s  and plastic debris killing her pre...

  When I was growing up, my father would tell me to always patronize the small businesses in the area.  He repeatedly told me that if you don't, then the day you need them, they won't be there for you. I think of his words now, as I drive through the business sections of town and look at all the signs reading "Temporarily Closed", "Permanently Closed", and just "Closed".  I wonder how many of the small businesses that I have patronized over the years will be gone when this is over.  How many will still be there, but will be "different".  I look at the empty storefronts and wonder if anyone will move in once this is over, or if they will remain empty for years to come.  It's  not just the small businesses that are dying though.  The paper lists major department stores that have been around for over 50 years as closing, many because of people shopping online, a trend that was causing issues for the department stores before the pandemic ...

I stopped by a store yesterday, Aug 29 th , it was filled with Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations for sale.  I realized, that the year has passed in such a pandemic induced fog, that we essentially lost all the holidays since Valentine’s Day.  We may have done a few things at home with family, but the big celebrations were kaput along with annual seasonal activities like going to baseball games, football games, swimming at the municipal pools, Memorial Day trips to cemeteries, Family reunions and get togethers, summer concerts in the parks, Fourth of July fireworks, summer vacations  and so much more.   St Patrick’s Day, Mardi Gras, Easter, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, and Father’s Day were just tiny blips on the radar of our existence rather than events to bring the community out. The upcoming holidays, Halloween, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years will probably follow suit.  The stores may have decorations to sell, but ...