Hermitage Notes - These 40 Days

Five weeks and five days. 

Today is Day 40 of hunkering down to wait out the ravaging effects of this Covid-19 challenge.

We did not wait for the shelter in place mandate to be issued by the Governor. As for me and my house, we decided to self-sequester once the Archbishop lifted the Sunday requirement to attend Mass.

Some people that we know took exception to our decision. 

Some people that we know, for that matter, take exception to the fact that we support the decisions of our civic leaders insisting upon social distancing and the necessary health crisis closures.

The simple truth of the matter is that times like these have a way of bringing out the best in some and the worst in some. Emotional reactions to differences of opinions have become highly inflamed.

Some are afraid. Some are angry. Some are making accusations. Some are purely apathetic. Some are interpreting the crisis through the conspiracy lens. Some are defying the orders and participating in protests in defiance and disobedience.

It is interesting how this span of 40 days of time has caused us to think about things as they relate to life here in our little hermitage in the woods. It is interesting how it has made us wrestle with and confront ourselves; how it has caused us to examine the things that motivate and drive us to do the things we do. It is interesting how it has affirmed our belief in the importance of learning how to simply be still … not only in the midst of a storm that rages but even more so within ourselves in the ordinary give and take of life.

I cannot help but to think about the 40 days and nights when Jesus fasted and prayed in the wilderness as he prepared himself to begin his earthly ministry. [Matthew 4:1-11]

During that 40-day season of fasting and praying, Satan bombarded Jesus with temptations. This same Jesus, in the midst of this pandemic storm, calls us all … especially those of us that profess to know him … to examine the motives and morals that we live by and make the necessary adjustments that bring us closer to him and his model for living.

As for the protests, clamoring, and challenging of the social conditions that have been imposed upon us by our elected civic leaders? I can understand them from the perspective of worldlings. I cannot, however, justify them from the perspective of a follower of Jesus.

I will dare to say that as long as we are not being told to do something that is contrary to the moral laws that God’s people are to live by, then we are obliged to honor the imposed stipulations … like them or not.

I remind myself that this is the plain and simple directions contained in the New Testament Scriptures – directions that I am obliged to live by if I indeed consider myself to be a follower of Jesus.

Both the Apostle Paul and the Apostle Peter address this.

“Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore he who resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of him who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good.” [The Apostle Paul to the Romans, 13:1-4a]

“Be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing right you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God. Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.” [The Apostle Peter, 1 Peter 2:13-17]

The one who drew his sword and cut off the ear of the High Priest’s servant [John 18-10] tells us to put away our swords and get out of the business of anarchy; even when our obedience to God’s directions cause us to be led as sheep to the slaughter. [Psalm 44:2, Romans 8:36]

These are definitely trying times that are affecting all of us. The associated uncertainties can become overwhelming if we allow them the strength to overcome us. The first thought running through my consciousness as I awoke this morning confronts these uncertainties and their challenges.

That thought?

The Bible is full of examples of people that faced monumental challenges and obstacles. By keeping their focus on God … in keeping their faith and trust in him … they not only met the challenges and obstacles head on but also made their way victoriously through them.

We are doing our uttermost here at our little hermitage-like cabin in the woods to not just live through these times but to also learn and grow through the challenges. 

There is so much more to this than merely surviving some hard times for the sake of physical survival. Our already embraced hermit-like lifestyle has definitely been an advantage. It does not remove the roughness of the edges but we are afforded a measure of control over them.