There was a story this week that caught my attention related to our present circumstances, that provided a small bit of levity to brighten our otherwise difficult days. The story was about a herd of Great Orme Kashmiri goats which invaded a small coastal community in Northern Wales. Because of the currant pandemic, social movement in the UK has been restricted. Thus, without the normal human traffic as a deterrent, those hill dwelling goats saw their opportunity to do a new thing; leave their familiar hills, go into the nearest town and do some exploring. AND while they were at it, sample the local cuisine, aka; flower beds, finely groomed lawns, Aunt Agatha's prize daffodils (OK, I made that one up). 
But, seriously, people noticed those goats wandering around and grazing on their property. They noticed the goats running down the streets and eating everything in sight. That is what goats do. ----- People noticed and because of this, the goat’s presence in town caused quite a stir. It was a mix of humor and annoyance from the local people, but everyone agreed that seeing goats in town was quite a sight. 
It was actually extraordinary! 
After all, it made world news.
Perhaps we need to ask, Why??? Why would a bunch of grazing goats from the hills get so much attention. Why should we care??? They are GOATS, for goodness sake!!!! 
Of course, now those goats are international stars. I guess it is because such a sight is uncommon. It's not the norm. Wild goats running through town is just not something that you see every day. Can you just imagine if that happened in Princeton?
What this story affirms for us is that extraordinary things occur in extraordinary times. And there is no doubt that we are living in extraordinary times! Moreover, what we know of our present circumstances is that there will be extraordinary loss, extraordinary anger, extraordinary grief before we ultimately come out on the other side of this pandemic. But hopefully, as people who do indeed have our eyes on God, we will find solace, comfort, and a strengthening of our faith. We will find that there will be other extraordinary things which will balance out the sadness and challenges taking place in this extraordinary time. I am certain that we will see with our own eyes, and experience with our own being, extraordinary moments of courage, extraordinary moments of kindness and generosity and of goodness and caring. We will see extraordinary moments of God working in our lives.
The great Martin Luther said:
"this life...is not righteous, but growth in righteousness; not health, but healing, not being, but becoming, not rest, but exercise. We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it. The process is not yet finished, but it is going on. This is not the end, but it is the road. All does not yet gleam in glory, but all is being purified."
As we approach Palm Sunday and as we journey with Jesus to his passion, hopefully we will see that amazing journey with different eyes---- and different hearts. Now with Christ's passion at the forefront, may we embrace our faith even more fiercely than ever before. And as we walk with our Lord to Golgotha, let us embrace the extraordinary, as we rise to life anew.

Blessings
Rev Janet