February 15, 2023
Leadership Notes
Who’d a thunk it? For the past two generations, people thought Armageddon would begin with a nuclear conflagration. Yet here we are, in 2023, shooting balloons out of the sky over Lake Huron. What an ignominious turn of apocalyptic fears.
Speaking of end-of-the-world fears, here’s a sad yet telling letter to advice columnist Dear Annie:
I am in my 70s and have seven grandchildren who I love very
much. I am writing because my 4-year-old granddaughter does
not want to hug me, and I’m not sure what to do about it. I think
I know the cause, which started when she was 2 and the whole
world was coping with the pandemic.
When I would see her when she was 2 and 3 years old, we could not
hug because everyone was saying, “keep your distance”
because of Covid-19. So we would do “air hugs” and “bear hugs,”
which meant that I would open my arms as if I were about to
hug her, but instead I would simply hug the air. I doubt if she
understood why I didn't hug her.
Now when I see her, if I put my arms out for a hug, she shakes
her head no and hides behind a couch or acts like she doesn’t
want to hug.
I have told my son and daughter-in-law…and they say I’m
probably right, but I don’t want to understand the problem; I
want my little granddaughter to hug her grandpa! My daughter-
in-law says that the more I see her, the more comfortable she will
be with me and the more likely we can hug as time goes along.
What do you think?
My wife and I were onboard with the whole “fifteen days to slow the curve” but six days after that {because of the timing when we saw them}, we were hugging and kissing both granddaughters. I feel for the above grandfather. I know everybody’s experiences with and responses to the pandemic varied, but as for Lori and I and our household, we landed on only doing what was required by law. We even stopped with the first round of COVID vaccines. After that, we were dunzo. The same for masks. Incidentally, a new scientific review has found that face masks made little to no difference in preventing spread of COVID. These things will and must be studied moving forward to better inform future responses to the difficult challenges we face. {And yes, even balloons!} The last thing we want to do is ground our responses in the baser authoritarian instincts of our fallen nature.
You and I are going to negotiate differing paths depending on the best available information and our God-given worldview. While each challenge or crisis that comes our way will elicit a variety of responses, praise God we serve the same Savior and someday, we will be together in his glorious presence.
And now, your Moment of Spurgeon:
“Carnal men love the god that they make, but not the God that
made them.”
With Much Love and Affection,
Richard