Pastor's Devotions by Tim Harris

As I was listening to the news last week, I heard an expression I had not heard before, “COVID fatigue.” It was a reference to the fact that across the nation people are getting weary of having to worry about the coronavirus, wear masks, socially distance, etc. Talking with people you get the feeling that everyone is a bit tired of Zoom meetings and Google hangouts. People are growing tired of not being able to go to a sporting event or into church or movie theater. We’ve grown weary of having to be super-self-conscious every time you pass someone in a supermarket aisle. Yes, one might say we are all getting a bit of COVID fatigue. I understand well the reasons behind the face masks and all of the precautions we’ve had to take to stop the spread of the virus. But to be honest, right now I find myself dealing with COVID fatigue. At this point I want to discard the mask, walk freely into a mall or supermarket, or find myself in the midst of a crowd without worrying about who might...

With all that’s happening in the world around us—e.g. the pandemic, protests, racial tensions, political fights, etc.—it’s hard to find a place to escape for just a bit and feel a little normalcy and calm. For me that place is the boardwalk. Taking a walk in the evening on the boardwalk with Kim or going for a run in the morning or late afternoon seems to take me away from the news and the stresses of what we are facing these days. There’s just a different kind of vibe when you walk alongside the beach, see and hear the waves breaking on the shoreline, and feel the sea breeze blowing on your face. I know it sounds like I might be romanticizing it a bit, but I do feel blessed to live so close to the beach and be able to walk or run the boardwalk on a regular basis.  The Long Branch Boardwalk...a great place to walk or run!   One of the things I’ve noticed is that, on the boardwalk people seem to be in a really good mood. As they walk the boardwalk, they’re usually with ...

These past few months and weeks have been, to say the least, difficult for all of us.  With a worldwide pandemic upon us, the lockdowns that have ensued, the rise in unemployment, and the negative impact it has all had on our lives, it has all been a bit overwhelming. In the midst of it all, we’ve been smacked in the face by the fact that racial divisions and injustice remain among us as a nation. Add to that, not only the protests that are taking place—which may not be without good cause—but we have had to watch how in some places looting and violence has erupted. The combination of all these things happening at the same time has turned this into a time of great distress. Although I follow the news pretty regularly, at times I have found it best to turn it off—or, not even turn it on—so as not to become fixated on things that are just outright depressing. With social media posts flying, filled with everyone’s opinions regarding the virus, lockdowns, protests, etc., I’ve had t...

Last night around midnight I heard a storm that was beginning to roll in with lightning and thunder.  Soon I began to hear our dog Sadie, who is petrified of thunder, begin to whine downstairs behind her gate. So, although I know this might seem a bit over the top to some, I got out of bed and went down to her. I could see the fear in her eyes and the fact that her breathing had become rapid.  So, I laid down on the couch and when I did, Sadie jumped up on it as well, laid down next to me, put her paw over me. and laid her head on my lap. I petted her head as I spoke softly to her, trying to get her to calm down. For the next hour, that’s how we rode out the storm.   Of course, I knew that Sadie was safe and that the storm wasn’t going to harm her. I could have just left her downstairs to herself knowing everything would be ok. Sadie, however, didn’t know that. She had no concept that she was safe. She needed someone to comfort her and calm her down. And, that comfor...