I guess those of us born in the 60s still remember this song from the Cascades, “The Last Leaf” where the lyrics tell of a young man’s hope for his loved one to return to him before the leaves of the tree fall off for autumn.
Clinging on to the last straw of hope in the remaining leaf, the young man continues to pray on this last leaf. And stronger than the leaf, should be our hope in God.
In the midst of the pandemic many things we thought were impossible became possible. God provided that long needed pause to reboot families and allow them time to reorient themselves with what family and relationships should really be.
Last Monday, in our Bible Study we were asked to share how 2020 blessed us. Yep, you read it right. BLESSED. And you would be surprised at the long list!
Though the year was on the surface turbulent, there were many realizations we made. Family is important. Life and time should not be wasted. Love should be expressed. Hatred should be forgotten as we allow forgiveness to take its place and peace to replace that heavy uncomfortable feeling of loneliness brought about by pride. Only necessities that support life are important. Fashion is not. Vanity is not. Conceit and power are not. For there is no power greater than that of God.
These awakenings may have stirred a lot of businesses’ hearts as their pursuit for social responsibility programs also took a different turn. Charity started at home as corporations sought to focus on taking care of their own people first to keep their business afloat for indeed you cannot give what you do not have.
For those who could still shell out some extras they became more purposive in their philanthropy. Also taking in what is essential.
The essentiality of things is no longer relative but basic. It does not take the shape of what is important to you may not be important to another. It goes down to survival.
It is in these times that real priorities surface and miracles happen.
In times of crisis we always see the hand of God. Not just on the deliverance but in the day to day walk to press on.
We find Him in the womb of Sarah who was in menopause. In the edge of the red sea as the Egyptians closed in. In the fulfillment of Joseph’s dream when from a jail inmate he turned into a wise administrator of the labs of Egypt. We see Him in the slingshot of David, an artisanal weapon, crude and incomparable to the heavy artillery of Goliath. We see God in many triumphs at the nick of time.
Now against an invisible enemy we continue to cling on to God, our warrior and our first, mid, and all-time defense.
Now we are grueling over the vaccine. When we had none, we clamored for one. Today, faced with choices we hesitate or do not want any.
And we continue to look at the last leaf when we can have the guidance from the grower of the tree.