GPBC Blog

By Barry Lowry --

I don’t know about you, but the ability to return to “normal” and be able to meet together, and learn and worship together is something I long for dearly. I sense that God is using this longing, in a way, to show me that meeting with His church as a community is something I’ve taken for granted way too often. And as He affords more time to reflect on life, I can see that there are many things of value that I take for granted. I pray that as the shelter-in-place is eased and we return to “normal” that He helps me to see these things of value with new, refreshed eyes.

What about “normal” though? Do you find yourself longing for a sense of “normalcy”, a returning to how things where prior to this “ab-normal” environment in which we find ourselves?

I miss a lot of things; as I mentioned, meeting with all of you, and meeting with our small group family – a lot. Having my mom come visit our family for a couple of weeks at a time – really miss that… I miss meeting for coffee with a friend, or going out to eat with Rithu and our family without a second thought. This was kind of surprising, but I miss being able to meet with work colleagues and attend training sessions together or face-to-face customer meetings. On the gratitude side, I am extremely thankful for the different online meeting tools that we’ve all been using, probably more than imagined we ever would.

Like many of you, our kids’ schools and activities have been cancelled or moved online. Their tennis seasons were also cancelled. They’re also missing out on so many opportunities to connect with their friends and hang out. Some of their summer work plans have also been disrupted – I hurt for them.

Ah…to return to “normal.”

Will we be able to attend church like before, as a family, sitting together? Will we be able to go to the grocery store & walk within three feet of someone, as opposed to six feet? What about going out to our favorite restaurants, will we be able sit at a table that’s within six feet of other dinners? What about auditoriums, will we be able to fill them, in different communities, maybe watching our kids perform? What will classrooms look like, will social distancing (I don’t know about you, but I must admit that I’m extremely over hearing this term…) be required? Work – will we be able to work next to each other and be safe in our offices or cubicles? What about commercial flights, what the heck is that going to look like? These types of questions, in this world, in this time, are tugging at my mind.

Then I’m reminded (as I began, God has thankfully been working on my heart & mind, especially during this “ab-normal” time), what should my expectation of “normal” be in this life?

God’s love letter to us has many reminders that His people, those of us who follow Jesus, are visitors, aliens, in this world. 1 Peter 2 & Hebrews 11 make such references – read it – that as followers of Jesus, this world is not our home. What should we expect of this world, if it’s then not our home, if we are in fact, visitors? For me, acceptance is the key. Demanding my “rights”, kicking against the goads like the spoiled child in my heart, will only serve to work against God’s will for me. Hardships truly can represent the pathway to peace, if I’m willing to seek Him first.

So, can I surrender my expectations of what life will/should look like on the other side, the “normal” side, of this “ab-normal” environment? Can I be His peace in the new “normal”? I can NOT, not without Jesus. The very thing He calls me to I’m incapable of doing without Him. I think that’s the way he designs the challenges that He calls us to overcome. His presence, His power, His love is required for true victory.

This is my goal: to be patient and loving to everyone I come in contact with in this world. That my thoughts, words and actions would honor Jesus, and to some degree, make Him famous.
I invite you to join me.

We love you & miss you church!

Barry Lowry