Our Weekly Thought – November 2 - 8, 2020

The scout motto for girls and boys is “Be Prepared.” This is a helpful reminder that life routinely throws us curves and puts us into situations where our usual skills are insufficient. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, many of us were unprepared, even though scientists knew something like was likely. Leaders in particular were warned in advance of this pandemic. Those countries with wise leaders took immediate steps to lessen the impact on the citizenry where they served. In contrast, dictators like Putin and his ilk saw only to their own interests and fears, strangely thinking that responsible actions might somehow incite panic. They thus hid the enormous impact of the disease from their people, with disastrous results. Jesus reminds us here (in Matthew 15:1-13) to be ready, not unprepared; to be forthright and not afraid. May we all be ready to receive what comes our way, confident in God’s care: that God’s hand is leading us and God’s love supporting us.