Isolated, but not Alone

           

As I am writing this the state of TN was the latest in the line of states to declare stay at home acts. This is a hard time that we are living in, there is no doubt about that. Every day we are told of how many more people around the world have contracted Covid-19, and how many deaths have been due to this virus. Of course we also want to know how many Americans, and then we need that broken down into how many Tennesseans and even how many in Washington County.

            There is no shortage of this information. The news outlets seem to cover nothing but this, and there are even 24-hour a day streaming platforms to give us up to the minute details of the numbers, the people, affected. We are told of the economic implications that will affect us for years after the epidemic of the virus has been controlled.

            Jobs have been lost, graduations have been cancelled, school will be done a new way, and employers who can keep their workers are struggling to fund creative ways to allow work from home and still stay in business.

            There is no end to the effects of Covid-19. And daily the death toll rises.

            What are we to do?

            The gospel of Mark begins in a unique way, “This is the Good News about Jesus” (Mark 1:1a). Mark does not begin with a genealogy to show Jesus’ heritage and messianic claims, nor does he talk of shepherds and angels and Mary and Joseph. Mark jumps right into Jesus at age 30, being baptized in the Jordan River. Immediately after this Mark says that Jesus began calling his disciples and performing many miracles and healings.

            And then, right in the 1^st chapter of this gospel, Mark writes these words, “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray” (Mark 1:35).

            Isolation. That’s a scary word, and perhaps even more so in the culture of our day. Patients in hospitals all over the world are alone as family members are not allowed to be there with them. The CDC advice to anyone who feels ill is self-quarantine, and in many homes there are isolated people living under the same roof.

            When we are isolated we feel alone. And feeling alone can feed a feeling of fear.

            But I have always found that it interesting, that right off the bat in Mark’s gospel, as he is laying the groundwork of who Jesus is and what is important in Jesus and in life in general, that he intentionally says that Jesus sought out some isolation. Not to be alone completely, but to be alone with his Father, and to engage in a very specific and intentional act….prayer.

            I don’t know where you will be when you read this, or what the numbers of Covid-19 impact will be. But here is what I am thinking that we can do today, allow a time of staying at home, of staying away from others, to draw us closer to our God.

            Seek an intentional isolated place today, and maybe that isn’t going to be too hard. Maybe it’s a favorite chair, or room in your house. If you can get outside in your yard then maybe that provides a great prayer spot for you.

            And then just pray.

Speak to God what is on your heart.

            And know that even in isolation, you are not alone.