As I am listening to the Clay and Buck Show, whose tagline is "With Time Slot on Loan From Rush", they are recounting some of the foolishness put in place for the virus the past couple of years. In some places, the restrictions are yet in place including on airplanes, where wearing face masks is still required. Many are hoping that restriction gets dialed back sooner rather than later, especially since the air on the planes is considered to be already well filtered. The airlines are ready to let go of it, too much time spent on enforcement, but the unions (again!) are the ones dragging their feet on it. Sure does make air travel that much more less enjoyable. Recently I ate at Cracker Barrel with Terri, and I noticed so many folks were yet wearing face masks. You would think that they would notice that hardly anyone else was sporting such coverings but some folks are of such a mind that the mask is a security device rather than beneficial to one's health. We have some older folks at church who continue to wear face masks, even in the pew, as they sit alone, in the front row. I asked the lady once what that was about and she said, "Oh, I guess we're just used to them..." Yup, I am sure that is what has happened to so many people. That didn't really take long, did it?
Sometimes I see people alone in the car, driving down the street, wearing a face mask. Now, are they so brainwashed by the press and faux medical reports that they are too scared to take them off? They are dependent on them, psychologically scared out of their wits of the virus. The media sure did a good job of freaking people out, and the leaders in the communities and even the churches backed up the fear invoked by those supposedly in the know. People were just so freaked out about being within 6', that magic number!, that folks would walk in front of moving cars on River Road to avoid passing too close to others walking along, outdoors. Oh, for heaven's sake!! First we did not need a face mask, it is of no use, later finding out that was a lie to prevent a run on the supply. Studies are showing now that the masks and all that other stuff was not as beneficial as we were lead to believe. Washing our hands for two minutes, while singing "Happy birthday" was another idea for practicing good handwashing when some thought the virus was shared on surfaces. "Don't touch your face!" "Keep your hands away from your eyes!" "Don't handle your mask!" It used to make me chuckle that restaurant workers would be wearing "sanitary" gloves while handling our food, dishes, napkins, etc. and then handling our credit cards and money! But, yes, please, wear the gloves!
Reading my Facebook Memories from 2020 it is noted that I still went to the store and would even shop for my neighbors if they did not wish to go out, at first seeing only an occasional mask and/or glove wearer. Such a false sense of security from the gloves, ridiculous! Anyway, I was and continue to be a serious user of hand sanitizer, having been on the receiving end of 1000 wrapped wipers back in 2015, from Justin! Our friend, OJ, was and is the same as me, so we were cool before everyone else. I am just neurotic, speaking for myself, not liking to handle the ketchup bottle or salt shakers in restaurants. People are used to me being that way. Also, I need to sit facing the door, though some in my group pooh pooh that desire of mine.
My desire to go out, and interact with others, was stronger than my terror of the virus or of public scrutiny. My friends, Mo and Ro, joined me at the pool over at The Club most days during the lockdown, where we would sit at the tables after Mo would thoroughly scrub the chairs and table top with her sanitary Clorox wipes. She was being torn between being reasonable and scared out of her wits by their older daughter, who was a kindergarten teacher. Daughter was totally freaked (she is not a union member but reads their literature). Daughter would do the grocery shopping and leave it in the foyer or away from the main house to let the germs die before putting things away. So, it was total freak out on one hand and "let's go sit at the pool" on the other hand.
Our WELS churches around here closed, my church closing for two months, out of concern for how it would look to the community if we continued to meet. I know it was a tough decision position to be in; it sure doesn't look good if a church that was preaching Fear Not! was alive with it! But, it was happening in communities that people would call the police if they saw too many cars parked at a certain place, even at people's homes!, as the mayor of Jacksonville put limits on how many could gather in one place at one time. Even at the grocery or other stores, no more than 50 people, including staff! Ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous. Anyway, back to church. Fortunately, Victory Lutheran had some systems already in place to broadcast via Facebook or the Internet so our pastor would go over there and he would share pastoral duties with their new pastor, Troy Schreiner. That poor guy really had a rough start here in Jacksonville between waiting a month to close on their home, having a hurricane brush by, and then preaching to an empty sanctuary! They would have an organist, sound person, and perhaps a couple others in the sanctuary and conduct a service which could be viewed live or later. Many other congregations were able to do the same type of thing so I got to watch services from all over the place, a silver lining to this situation! Lots of preaching in empty sanctuaries, reminded me of "Eleanor Rigby", by the Beatles!
Terri and me on Easter Sunday, 2020, at church
Because our congregation was so small, it was not difficult for us to resume our in person worship just about two months after closing. We did get to partake of the Lord's Supper on two occasions during the shut down, once on Easter and again the following month. Pastor did a brief devotion for 9 people (only 10 people allowed in the room at a time then) and then offered us the Supper. The usual folks with whom I normally communed arranged to meet at that same time so we could attend together. Pastor would do this until he had to leave to join Pastor Schreiner over at Victory Lutheran for the worship broadcast. A church in our area, St. Peter (LCMS) where several of our members had joined, had such services every week, sometimes 19 times, until everyone who wished to attend and be served the Lord's Supper was taken care of. For fear of transferring the virus on the hymnal pages, they were removed from the pews and ribbons separating the rows were put in place so we would sit only every other row. As Rush would say, symbolism over substance, but some people were so terrified about coming back that the leadership had to make it as "safe" a place as they could. As far as I was concerned, if a person was so scared, they should stay home. Like I said, it was a conundrum for the church leaders, fearing looking bad to the community or freaking out their members.
Our church also began a practice of video-streaming our service via Facebook, a practice continued to this day, so those at home or away can watch LIVE services, or watch later. We eventually got our hymnals back though the practice of printing the entire service in the bulletin has now stuck and will continue. Soon we will be updating our streaming abilities, more professionally done, as funds and time allow. There is movement to purchase the new hymnal and accompanying publications so we will be forced to get with the times. Hanging on for the dear life...
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