Children, Youth & Family Ministry: Reflection on Doubting Thomas and COVID-19
By Kristen Morgan, Director of Children, Youth & Family Ministry
I'm typing this on Day 38 of the kids being at home from school. Their first day at home, by the way, was March 16th. At that point, all we knew was they were home until at least March 31st. Then, it was April 14th. Then, April 30th. Now, through the end of this school year. Distance learning officially started for some, while other districts are still trying to get computers out to their students. Who knows what the "new normal" will look like in the fall? Some kids have realized that they won't get to return to their elementary schools-- that as 5th graders, they will be moving up to middle school next fall. The seniors are missing things like the prom, graduation, and lots of other special events. Kids are missing their spring sports. They can't get together and ride bikes or play in the yards together. Sibling rivalry may be rearing its head at your house (it is over here!). As adults-- events have been canceled, we're working from home, and, if you feel like I do sometimes, it feels very isolated.
We're all doing the best that we can. But let's be honest-- it's all just WEIRD. And the feelings-- SO MANY FEELINGS. Anxiety, fear, short-tempers, irritability, sadness, more fear, not sleeping. That feeling of This Isn't What I Expected.This isn’t what I signed up for for 2020.
We are all in different places in processing these feelings. That's why we're having parent meetings on Zoom twice a week. It's good to have a place where we can get together and see each other's faces, and talk about whatever is going on in our lives. It's a place to share, and to support each other the best we can. If you are interested in attending, please email me at kmorgan@stpaulspgh.org.
This week’s Sunday School lesson for the older kids is Doubting Thomas. We all know this story-- Thomas wasn’t there when the other disciples saw Jesus appear to them after the resurrection.He said “Unless I see it for myself, I won’t believe it”. I wonder if I would have been like Thomas. If I hadn't been there to SEE the Risen Christ, would I have believed without seeing it for myself? For us, today, seeing CAN'T be believing. Our faith is based entirely on believing without physical seeing. Jesus in his own personal, physical form isn't something that we get to see. (Yet.) But what if we looked for Christ in everyone we meet? And what if we tried to BE Christ for others?I wonder what that would look like.It would be easy for us, in these current circumstances, to say something like “God clearly has left us in this world. Because I can’t see Him.” The more I think about it, I think that couldn’t possibly be farther from the truth.I think I’ve seen God working through ordinary people nearly every day over the past six weeks. In this very weird and scary time, I’ve seen a lot of wonderful people helping others. I’ve seen people making masks. I’ve seen people providing meals and food to families who would be hungry otherwise. I’ve seen birthday parades for kids who are celebrating birthdays without the parties they thought they might have. And I’ve watched the selflessness of essential workers, who are going to work every day at their own risk, in order to make sure people are taken care of, and that we have what we need. And I’ve been watching all of us who are doing our best to stay home to flatten the curve. God is Here.
I would invite you to join me in mindfully watching for God working through regular people (people like you and me) during this time, and to serve others as you see a need. Look for Christ in others, and Be Christ for others. I miss you all, and I look forward to a time when we can be together in our community again.
I’m sending blessings to all of you, and prayers for health and safety as well.
Kristen
