Each of us is engaged in relearning how to live our day-to-day lives in a system that is learning on the fly.  There is no certainty in what we are experiencing.  There is no previous experience as Americans for us to draw on.  This is new and it's our reality right now. In other words, none of us really have experience living the way we are having to live today.

 

It's like there is way too much to process. There's the loss that so many are dealing with that may cause grief that many aren't aware they're carrying. There's the physical distancing while in public places that can become overwhelming if someone gets too close to you while shopping or you accidentally get too close to someone else.  There are so many young people who were supposed to be celebrating their senior year in high school, college, grad school but yet proms, graduations, senior trips have been put on hold, if not canceled. Then, there's the loss of loved ones, friends, family members, jobs, and income. There is so much uncertainty.

 

And it's normal to feel stressed or anxious because of the current conditions we are living in. Because our emotions/feelings deserved to be acknowledged and not ignored. Allow yourself to feel.  Many may wrestle with finding some sense of peace during this current crisis we are living in.  

 

In this text, Luke has written about the crisis the disciples faced having witnessed Jesus' crucifixion. Their leader, teacher, confidant has been killed and the emotions they experienced from grief to confusion must've been overwhelming. Yet, we see from Luke's writing how they are able to get on a peaceful path.  What is interesting in the disciples' experience is that Christ meets them where they are, He also has a message for them that transforms their lives, and finally their memory kicks in for them to see that Jesus was truly sitting with them.  As a result, the two disciples move forward in peace ready to share with others about what God has done in their lives.

 

May God give you peace during this pandemic in our lives