PANDEMIC PANCAKES

Our just-for-grandchildren bookshelf has several “visiting grandma/grandpa” books with pasted-in headshots of the grandparents and grandchild. The fiction boy goes fishing with his grandpa and plants flowers and makes cookies with his grandma.  Not at our house! Grandpa scoops up ice cream cones and Grandma cooks Norwegian sour cream pancakes. The recipe honors the heritage of my grandfather, who died just months after I was born. The pancakes also royally feed the grands when we’re called to their home for early-morning kid-care when their dad’s gone to work and the mom has early morning staff meetings. 

Covid-19 concerns had cut her in-person staff meetings, so we hadn’t done the early breakfast duty at their home for months until one recent week. This time, she needed to shut herself away in a quiet room at a time when the boys—ages 2, 5, and 6—would be up and ready for breakfast. Oops. I had a long-overdue dental appointment in the middle of that time slot, and my husband was to meet somebody who wanted to buy a bike. But we’d make it work.

When we arrived with pancakes at 7 a.m., two were up and ready to eat as their dad slipped out to go to work and their mom went upstairs for her virtual conference. So far, so good. I left for the dentist at 7:45, and got back at 8:15 as Grandpa left. Just then, the oldest hollered, “The cat vomited on the rug!”  That crisis past, I checked the remainder of the pancake pile and decided the still-sleeping boy would have enough to eat.  Which he did—at 10 a.m., when he woke up just as his mom finished her virtual meeting. Whew! After a full morning of waitressing, entertaining, and settling spats, this seventy-something Nana was ready for her afternoon nap, a few hours early!

I’m glad the grandsons like pancakes! When little kids can be so fussy about menus, it’s a sure thing. I’m also glad that my “Bible-menu” over the years has included scripture portions that nourish and energize me. When I read my Bible in the morning and evening, I keep coming across reminders that God is in control, even in the most difficult circumstances. Like this: Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7). 

This worldwide time of illness, suffering and death hasn’t caught God by surprise. It can be our opportunity to show the world what faith can do. Peter also said, “If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11)

I like “for ever and ever.” The means beyond Covid-19. Beyond my earthly life. Beyond the last pancake I will flip for my growing grandsons.  When the dreary drone of disaster on the daily news drags me down, this promise lifts me up.

PESTILENCE

One by one they were announced this past weekend--the restrictions on places where people congregated and were apt to share the deadly Corona virus: churches, schools, senior centers, sports and cultural events! I understand, but it is still hard to get my mind around this sudden change in daily life.  I went (gloved but not masked) to my favorite discount grocery store the other day. As I expected, many shelves were bare of basics, thanks to hoarders. As I meandered over to the bakery goods (just restocked), I commented to an employee, “This is scary, all this panic buying.” He replied, “It shouldn’t scare people. We’ll still get our food deliveries on Monday and Wednesday.”

But I “get it” about avoiding invisible contact with a powerful virus that has already taken lives. I’m avoiding going out. Washing my hands lots more. Sanitizing surfaces. Trying to be aware of when I touch my face. Gargling with salt water. And trusting God.

PESTILENCE AND PLAGUE
The scripture that came to mind as soon as we realized the virus wasn’t just a Chinese disaster was Psalm 91.  We have to be careful about applying scripture haphazardly to news events, but I couldn’t get these verses out of my mind:

You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. (Psalm 91:5-6)

Fear is a big thing right now. We need to be alert and careful, but not out of control. This psalm (like Psalm 46, “God is our refuge and strength”) is a reminder of Who we serve and Who is ultimately in control of our eternal destiny. A few days ago the Seattle paper ran a half-page ad from someone who wrote up a treatise, full of Bible references, about hell and the destination of people who reject Christ. I didn’t read through it, as it struck me as coming at people with a nail-spiked club. For the same money, the man who placed it could have fed the hungry, helped pay for medicine, and presented the love of the Christ who died for our sins. Better that people know we are Christians by our love, not our Bible-banging.

As for Psalm 91’s references to “the pestilence that stalks in the darkness” and “the plague that destroys at mid-day,” I appreciated the wisdom of James Montgomery Boice’s commentary on this psalm. He said the passage does not teach that we’ll be entirely spared from disease or pestilence. On the other, we probably have no idea of how many times He has protected us when things could have gone really bad.

I think the key words here are “you shall not fear.” We’re to be prudent about our health habits—and especially so in times of widespread illness—because staying well enables us to serve Jesus longer and well until our time on earth is done.

I read somewhere that Psalm 91 was the last scripture read by Corrie ten Boom’s brother as the entire family waited in a local police station after their arrests for sheltering Jews. Only Corrie survived the terrible persecutions of the war, using her extra years of life to tell people about resting in the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1). That should be our message, too.