Tuesday at 7H

Judging by that the crisp early morning chill is no longer in the air, Spring is bidding us farewell. It was a delightful visit, long and welcome. With Summer equinox still a month away, when the sun starts its slide from over Lynn Haven back toward Shell Island, the heat will become oppressive until late in September and college football should be in full swing but may not. Will life and the world be back to Normal, or some strange New Normal that we'd never have imagined?

Maybe all this is happening to cover UM's slide into CFB oblivion? It didn't go with Jim Harbaugh as we anticipated. 

Here in 7H, yesterday was exciting. The superlatively competent Southern Cat team arrived midmorning and, by closing time, had removed our old Bay side windows and installed the new ones. I never saw such teamwork. The new windows are nice, including slightly deeper tint to reduce glare from the Bay. We got busy and rearranged our living room last evening although there's finishing work to be done and art to be rearranged and rehung. Next, the scaffolding comes down.

Today is our day for cautiously venturing out.

Something religious, seeing +Time is linked on the HNEC parish website? The 1 Peter lesson is classic and timely:

1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.

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Covid19 isn't exactly the roaring lion the author had in mind when he wrote this. Likely Christians, a new sect, maybe still part of Judaism? were being maligned, ridiculed, mistreated by the society, neighbors, former friends, even family. Whoever wrote the epistle is encouraging folks to be strong in the face of all this and consider that they are sharing in the sufferings of Christ. I'm not gonna liken 2020 to that, but down through the ages, times of suffering and fear, regardless of the sources, are related and tie us to history and each other. As with those 1 Peter was written to reach, we can encourage ourselves to stay strong. We don't know about the usual proverb "this too shall pass" but we do know that things will change, are changing, and the sun will still shine.

T+