SCATTERED

Evy down with the mumps 1953

Now in the olden days we did not have vaccines to prevent mumps, measles,  rubella, or chicken pox. When we came down with any of these illnesses we stayed home and waited to get better.  

In my memory I recall having either mumps or measles and being confined to our bedroom.  I must not have felt badly because I pressed my face against the window screen and watched the kids play in our back yard.  Suddenly the screen let go and I ended up on my nose in the dead grass under the window.  Also, I faintly remember Dad carrying Evy on his shoulders during one of these childhood diseases. So of course during these times of illness we didn't attend school or church.  

1971-- Chris caught the mumps while on a elementary school photo assignment for the Spokane Daily Chronicle

Now today we have coronavirus in our area of the U.S.  We don't know where it came from.  We do know that it is highly contagious  for the elderly and those with underlying health problems.  So far there have been over 3000 deaths worldwide.  Even though this number is lower that the number who die of influenza, for which we have vaccines, the CDC are asking us in this area to avoid large crowds.  

What does this mean for the Church?  Either we continue to meet or we meet in smaller groups.  In Acts 8 the Christians chose to scatter-- Acts 8:4 "Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word." Proverbs 27: 12 says "The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it."  We have prayed and asked God for wisdom.  I choose to preach the Word from home by writing a blog! Maybe others will invite family, friends, or the neighbors over, for a Bible study. 

God will use this complication for His glory and for good for those who love Him.