Exposed, Weary, and Hungrier Than Ever - a reflection from the Thompson household

I read this poem a few weeks ago, and it resonated:

Exposed

by Sarah Bourns

We’ve all been exposed.

Not necessarily to the virus

(though maybe…who knows)

We’ve all been exposed BY the virus.

Corona is exposing us.

Exposing our weak sides.

Exposing our dark sides.

Exposing what normally lies far beneath the surface of our souls,

hidden by the invisible masks we wear.

Now exposed by the paper masks we can’t hide far enough behind.

Corona is exposing our addiction to comfort.

Our obsession with control.

Our compulsion to hoard.

Our protection of self.

Corona is peeling back our layers.

Tearing down our walls.

Revealing our illusions.

Leveling our best-laid plans.

Corona is exposing the gods we worship:

Our health

Our hurry

Our sense of security.

Our favorite lies

Our secret lusts

Our misplaced trust.

Corona is calling everything into question:

What is the church without a building?

What is my worth without an income?

How do we plan without certainty?

How do we love despite risk?

Corona is exposing me.

My mindless numbing

My endless scrolling

My careless words

My fragile nerves.

We’ve all been exposed.

Our junk laid bare.

Our fears made known.

The band-aid torn.

The masquerade done.

So what now? What’s left?

Clean hands

Clear eyes

Tender hearts.

What Corona reveals, God can heal.

Come Lord Jesus.

Have mercy on us.

Our family is exhausted. Overwhelmed. Weary. This major life change has exposed significant weaknesses in us. It exposed how often we use worldly muscles, not God-strength ones. It exposed just how much we relied on our own bank account of patience, instead of God's wealth. It has exposed sin patterns and significant emotional/mental health needs. God is so merciful to expose these things in our family because they are now getting the attention they need, even if the issues don't go away on earth. God is using this time to refine us, to strengthen our foundation, to purify our faith, to make us more steadfast, to make us long to "put off our earthly tent" and groan for our heavenly home, just as the Word says. 

But it feels a little like going to the dentist and finding lots of cavities, learning you need a few root canals and tooth extractions. Or maybe it feels like going in for a check-up and finding out that many of your major organs are about to shut down.

We don't have to be afraid of this humbling exposure. No matter how great the problem, the sin, the frailty, our God's mercy, grace and power is greater. The problem of sin is actually way worse than a terrible experience at the dentist or doctor. We don't need a transplant, we need to be born again.

But thanks be to God that through Jesus, we have been. 

As Tim Keller says so often: "the gospel is this: we are more sinful and flawed than we ever dared believe, yet more loved and accepted in Jesus than we ever dared hope." 

Our neediness isn't the problem, our self-sufficiency was. Jesus came for the sick, not the healthy. 

Though many of us have been humbled and become more aware of our weakness in this time, as a church family and as an individuals, I believe we can now together better hear and receive Jesus' comforting words:

Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.

Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

Yes, Covid-19 has exposed all of us, but through it, God's word can narrate our powerlessness, our weakness, our groanings and remind us that "we consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." 

May God through His Word continue to narrate this experience for each of us, more than anything else. May we lean in and learn these essential faith lessons so it may profit us in the short and long term. May we eagerly long for the coming of our Lord Jesus, remembering together that this is not our home. 

And, may we continue to take it one day at a time. "Each day has enough trouble of its own."

When I get super overwhelmed at the huge needs just inside my house I'm filled with crippling anxiety, lying in the fetal position on my bed hiding from the world. Hiding from how I add to the problem.

But when I look at each individual moment's needs, keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus for that one moment. He gives me the manna I need. Not so much to save for tomorrow. But for the moment. 

May God be near to each of us.

**Don't forget to share your Manna for the Moment reflections with Adrianne for our church family! These help us to connect with our church family, feed, disciple and encourage one another during this time. Let's hear your voice! It can be about Covid-19, Psalm 23, Philippians 4, a recent sermon, etc. Email her at adriannevthompson@gmail.com"