200

“More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” Philippians 3:8

Day 200. Uff da! It’s Day 200 at Dispatches From a Suburban Parson During a Pandemic. I sit here this morning thinking that I didn’t sign up for this. I quickly remember that none of us signed up for this! I remember those early days in the middle of March when we were making plans to cancel one of two events; to shutter the Grace building for one or two weeks. And now, here we are.

It is easy to focus on what has been lost during this time. Easy and in many cases correct. We should focus on the over 200,000 Americans and the over 1,000,000 worldwide who have died of COVID-19. We should focus on the common ground that has been lost among people. We focus on the important things that have been lost so that we can mourn and so that we lose less going forward.

However, as Paul reminds us in our reading from Philippians for this coming Sunday, our losses do not compare to what we have received in Christ. This does not mean we should not grieve or mourn. Rather, Christ turns us back toward hope. In knowing Jesus, we experience first and foremost the gift of knowing Jesus, a gift that surpasses all others. We also receive the promise that those who have been lost in death have been found forever by Christ.

I hope this blog doesn’t make it until Day 300. But come what may, whatever we lose or suffer, remember the surpassing value of Jesus Christ. He is with you today. He’ll be with you tomorrow.

Be well, friends. You are loved.

God of our days, teach us to value to gift of Jesus, for in him we have all that we need. Freed in Christ’s love, let us use each day as the gift that it is, working for life in the midst of death.

Image: Anders and me, on the eve of Day 200.