COVID Thoughts: Proverbs 17:22: This flight tonight

My family and I were on vacation in Europe when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the continent full force. On our flight my daughter and I were watching movies with sub-titles (we didn't have headphones). One very funny movie we watched was Blended about these two previously married people falling in love and their families coming together. The lady was divorced. The man's wife had died of cancer. We were laughing out loud so much that my wife (who was sitting a couple of rows up with my other daughter) came to see us. She asked what we were watching that was so funny; all she could find was a movie about some lady who died of cancer. It wasn't the same movie but my daughter and I couldn't help laughing all the more! (The possibility that her not funny movie was exactly the same as our funny movie to us was very funny)

Now, of course, there is nothing funny about someone dying of cancer or Corona or anything else for that matter. But a lot of our healing and wholeness comes from how we remember and process things over time. In the midst of all the sadness, anxiety, and real tragedy in our world at this time I encourage each of us to look for someone to laugh with and something to celebrate: front line workers, volunteers, healing, recovery. It is my hope that even in the very real struggles of the pandemic that we will all find some joy today.

Proverbs 17:22 "A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

Romans 15:13: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

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