As the sun raises over Châtellerault city hall on yet another Saturday morning, my mug of hot chocolate is throwing off steam and the blinds are still closed here in the living room. They’re mechanical blinds that go up at the flick of a switch, albeit rather noisily – so I’ll wait until I hear more stirring in the house before raising them.
I did hear the rooster crow when I opened the shutters in the kitchen, but I can’t hear him from here and even the dog is not stirring in his kennel yet – he spends nights there.
Let’s settle in for a few minutes together & I’ll tell you about the week…
Loosened Lockdown
As of Monday, mobility became a little easier here in France. We no longer needed an attestation to leave home and a good number more stores have been open. I made two trips out this week and got to wear my first masks.
For the first one, I just wore a hankerchief with two hair elastics that Liz had been using – light blue with pink flowers. As we sat in the car she asked if I didn’t think it was too ridiculous looking (pink flowers & all), the mask on the right – affectionately called “the platypus” – was the other alternative. I ask you… which is more ridiculous?
As if Covid-19 itself wasn’t stress enough, I think there’ll undoubtedly be yet more stress in the aftermath. One store I was in clearly stated at the door that (a) masks must be worn and (b) shoppers were required to use a cart. At the cash next to mine I watched the cashier remind two customers in a row about the very simple instructions because they’d obviously ignored them.
I agree that it’s not easy to change our habits… but there’s still an awful lot we don’t know about this pandemic and so I can only shake my head as I see stories on the news about employees being harassed, insulted or worse.
Church… not quite yet
Though things are loosening up for businesses, and people are permitted to gather in groups of 10 or less, houses of worship are not yet permitted to organize meetings, meaning that we’re still not able to hold in-person services.
If you could attend church, this is what would greet you at the front entrance. It’s the rosebush where I’ve been gathering the Pierre de Ronsard roses. This is it’s third week in bloom.
We’ve been to the building once per week on average, mostly just to keep the lawn mowed and check on the building, and just us.
I’ve been recording messages to encourage our folks, from a distance and this week I’ll also be recording a message for the mid-week service of the church in Bordeaux.
Speaking of recording…
Quebec District Ladies’ Conference
Liz had been making plans to head to Canada for the Quebec District Ladies’ Conference and would’ve been leaving this coming Tuesday. She is someone who by far prefers to be out of the limelight and doing her work in the background. For this conference, however, she was invited as their guest speaker.
Covid-19 changed all that of course so she’s spent time this week recording videos, both in French and in English, that will be posted online as the conference goes virtual. (When they’re published, I’ll share links in case you’re interested).
She was quite uncomfortable at first and it took her a while to find her groove but she eventually did… as I knew she would.
The Ladies in Quebec are in for some awesome teaching!
Fresh Eggs & Early Mornings
Q: What do fresh eggs and early mornings have in common?
A: They’re both brimming with goodness and potential.
Timo made himself some scrambled eggs this week and I could tell that he’d used some of the fresh eggs that our hens have been laying… they were a much richer yellow than normal (Two of our three hens are now laying regularly). Left long enough and in the right conditions… they’ll produce another chicken. Eaten right away… they nourish and strengthen.
The second picture is looking out across our backyard as the sun rises on a new day… today. It too houses great potential, as does tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after that. In a world replete with hopelessness, confusion, anger and frustration, the Lord says “Peace, be still.” and our heart quiets… experiences His peace… and we can then go about our day testifying to where our peace comes from.
Like David we can say… “My help is from the Lord.”
Psalm 121
I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. 3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. 6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. 8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
AIM Long 