Category: Pilgrim Days (Page 2 of 14)

Self-Monitoring 

In the literal sense, self-monitoring is required for anyone coming from outside of the country. We were fortunate enough to fall into this category seeing as how the island decided to close its borders just two days after our return.  The alternative? Self-quarantine for 14 days, which entails being locked in. You are not able to leave your residence (not even to take out trash or buy groceries) and are required to check-in with authorities twice per day with your “stats”; temperature, condition, etc. 

I’ll be frank. I felt I had a good sense of control over the whole coronavirus pandemic. I felt I had good footing. I felt that living where we live, we wouldn’t be as impacted as our family and friends in other parts of the world.

As the holiday season continues, I was reminded of holiday origins and how convoluted our current practices are. I’m putting watching Elf on hold for just a second to reflect on something we often forget during the merriment and cheer.

“‘Mercy’ is the self-moved, spontaneous compassion of God for the miserable and distressed, freeing the sinner from the consequent misery of his sins.”

D. Edmond Hiebert

I started reading through 1 Timothy and when I came across the typical greeting, it was easy to gloss over these trifecta of words: grace, mercy and peace. So instead of running to the next verse, I wanted to hone in on the word “mercy.”

One of the more painful aspects of moving overseas was the parting away from the books I had collected. Due to spacing issues, we could only bring what was deemed most important and needed. Because of this, a lot of good books got left behind or given away. One particular book that was painfully left behind was Maurice Roberts’s book The Thought of God. This was a book that really impacted me while in seminary as it proved to be both a theological and pastoral treasure chest for my heart.