God is good and He continues to be good in the midst of all the craziness, new adjusted life style and uncertainties at this time.
Life continues and happens in spite of the pandemic. Within our own family, we have been fortunate to welcome our second grandchild this June, healthy and growing although we couldn’t welcome her in person at the hospital right after being born. Also, our first grandchild turned one and although the celebration had to be divided amongst family members and friends on separate days with Zoom, it was a meaningful and wonderful time to look back upon his first year of life under God’s care.
As well, in regards to work, I was asked to lead another ESL class online in April. While hearing of rising unemployment and things closing down, here I was, being offered a job without even looking for one. It took a steep learning curve to get on Zoom, Google Classroom, WhatsApp, etc. and I wasn’t sure it was possible to teach a language online when most of the students had only their smartphones to use. However, we moved forward, and I was grateful and touched by the students who showed up on their own or with the help of family members (including their own children), via Zoom, email or WhatsApp.
I’m especially thankful for our spiritual community of St. Tim’s. Although we could not gather together in person for worship, we still managed to worship through Zoom and grappled and try to make sense of God’s purpose for our lives through the Friday bible study. Also, I learned to do and participate in our virtual choir. It was refreshing and wonderful to see our members and leaders take initiative and direct the community to different and unique ways of worshipping and serving God and others around us.
The world is “ever changing but you (God) are still the same” rings so true. The world looks very different now outwardly with people wearing masks, social distancing and whatever form remains in terms of social gatherings but inwardly, the hearts and minds of people still desire to worship and love God and still love and care enough for those facing injustice and neglect. These are what gives me hope and hope is what I am most thankful for, especially as I look at the new generation that is coming up.
For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:24, 25)
This Thanksgiving, I hope and pray that we can all “Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, and persevere in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)
– Heichung Lee-Kim
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