The New Normal?
So who’s ready for the new normal? As we prepare for another digital worship gathering tomorrow, I doubt I’m the only one feeling a bit disoriented in these times. Reflecting over the past few days, I’ve noticed a strange concoction of emotions bubbling up inside me.
How is it possible to be simultaneously bored, scared, energized, and overwhelmed all at the same time? My soul longs for the human connection I took for granted (no disrespect to the ‘fam’ I get to isolate with) while in the same moment suspecting every stranger is a “corona-carrier.” Strange times indeed.
I’m tired of scrolling, hitting refresh, and waiting for the wifi to re-connect. I’m over ZOOM already, but yet I love it because it is my lifeline to community. I yearn for God more than ever, yet my first instinct before getting in or out of bed is to check the news.
If this is the new “normal”, I don’t think I like me in it. Maybe you can relate.
We can only distract ourselves for so long. The memes are getting old. Social media binging leaves a gnawing unease. TV shows and movies feel old, passe, and out of touch. Each day is running into the next.
But let’s be honest, part of the reason we find this time so painful is because we’ve been nurturing our own comfort. We have been used to doing life a la carte, as though living consisted in navigating our way through a series of options. There’s nothing like a pandemic to squash the dreams of a self-directed destiny.
Snapped out of this stupor, we remember the Living God. His Word reminds us not all is doom and gloom. We remember we are dependent creatures, not self-sustaining creators. We remember the problems of this world were never ones that we could ultimately fix.
Sure, we have been deprived of our comfort, but our self-sufficiency was a delusion anyway. Being awakened to reality - no matter how harshly - is better than the dreamstate of a life divorced from our Creator.
So maybe the “new normal” is just what’s been normal all along. Our world is suffering. We are not sufficient. Only God can save us.
Here I am reminded of the reason why (perhaps) the authors of the Heidleberg Catechism chose to begin their instruction in the faith by asking the question: “What is our only hope in life and death?”
Because if we look around and think we are the answer to this question, then we will never know the Living God. We will never know the joy of worship: namely, glad surrender to the almighty and benevolent Creator.
Choosing to worship is choosing to hope in the Living God. This why we will continue to gather digitally (strange as that is), even as we are scattered in isolation. We gather to worship. We gather because we are not our own, but belong to God. We gather because this is our hope.
The amazing thing is that when our hearts align in worship, God not only pours out his blessing to us, but through us. We become better neighbours, better spouses, better parents, better friends.
It’s as if the love of God poured out into our hearts (Rom. 5:5), cannot be fully contained in our hearts. Spilling over, it runs free and fast to the hollow places; the dry souls around us yearning to be quenched.
Now for some technical details.
Thanks to the valiant efforts of Janelle Keys and Lindsay McPhee, we are now able to provide a better experience for those choosing to join us online for our services. You how have three options for viewing in real-time:
WDBC’s Own Website - Great for people watching on a computer, or who want to watch on demand after the fact.
Facebook Live - Good for those who have been following our services already, those who like to share & comment, and for those who are always on the app anyway :-P
YouTube - A great option for people viewing on Smart TV’s or other devices
*Live-commenting is available through each of these viewing options. Feel free to post questions for QandA , or suggestions on how we can improve our digital worship services.
