By the Way: Keep your head up

By Rev. Lynn McKinnon on October 24, 2020.

“Even though you’re fed up, you gotta keep your head up.” – Tupac

This was the quote that we posted in our window at Westminster United when the church first closed because of the Covid 19 virus.

We thought we could put up some inspirational messages to the people in our community. That was in March. Now it is the end of October, and yes, we are fed up; more than fed up. And it is showing in our day to day interactions with each other.

I have noticed that the collective temperament has gone from fear to frustration to apathy in some cases, and we are tired.

“How long, O Lord” we lament but there is no answer.

So we keep our head down, our masks on, and we go forward. And sometimes we forget that everyone is feeling just as fearful and frustrated, and done as we are feeling.

This situation has tried us and we are coming up short.

We become short with retail staff, grocery clerks, wait staff in restaurants.

It is difficult to model Christian behaviour but that is the challenge we are called to take up.

Take that extra breath when you are frustrated; give that stranger you pass a smile, even if you are wearing your mask- your eyes will show that peace that someone might desperately need to see.

Encourage each other, say thank you to that harried cashier and truly mean it.

And remember that we are not the first people to cry out our lamentations to God.

Our ancestors in the faith were not abandoned and neither are we. God walks with us through all our days, good and bad, and God calls us to remind others that they are not alone either. This too shall pass, so keep your head up.

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