Nine, I think. To be honest, I lost count when I skipped last week's email and blog post because I was having trouble finding the words.
Lately I've been feeling angry.
Anger is a pretty natural part of grief process. Whichever side of the political divide you stand on (to open or not) I think it's safe to say we are all grieving what we've lost.
Earlier in the week I finished the book of Kings (part of my daily Scripture reading through the Read Scripture app from The Bible Project). Not easy reading, let me tell you!
Over and over the moral and religious devotion of the nation rose and fell (mostly fell!) with the heart of the king.
"...but he did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit — " 2 Kings 10:29 (this phrase shows up a lot in Kings!)
I'm not trying to make a specific comparison between what's going on in the world today and the Israelite's decline to the point of exile. But I do think there are things we can learn about God's character which is unchanging over time, space, and culture.
For instance, even at the height of Israel's disobedience, God left a remnant - a minority of people who remained devoted to Him.
“The surviving remnant of the house of Judah will again take root downward and bear fruit upward." 2 Kings 19:30
Which means - whether we reopen tomorrow or a year from now - God is not washing His hands of us. As the uncertainty drags on, I have to remember all the wise words people said at the beginning of the shutdown (links to previous posts below) and focus on the small, daily tasks God has given me to do.
Cultivate the garden (weed, water, and learn - it really is a whole process!)
Parent my children (we're wrapping up one school year and preparing for the next), and
worship the Lord (scribbling through Scripture, Dwelling on the Word, and singing lots of hymns!)
