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Minister’s Minute: Expectations in a new normal

Expectations. We all have them. We have expectations of ourselves. Everything from what we plan to accomplish in a day, all the way through to how we expect to perform at work, school, church and other contexts.
Minister's minute

Expectations. We all have them. We have expectations of ourselves. Everything from what we plan to accomplish in a day, all the way through to how we expect to perform at work, school, church and other contexts.

Perhaps now in this past week and the weeks ahead we have many expectations. We wonder how society and the economy will manage with the phases of gradual re-opening. Will we be able to make a reservation at our favourite restaurant, get our hair cut, make an appointment for that much needed counselling session? How long will we have to wait?

How is re-opening and re-integration at church going to be like? Will I still have to wait until I can go to church and sit in my favourite pew? So many questions, so many expectations and so many ways in which things can go so horribly wrong.

While we are excited, nervous and fearful about what our re-opening into a new normal may look like, we need to remember that through all of this, God is with us. God is right in the middle of our fear and anxiety, our excitement and longing. God is with us, holding and guiding us through the days and weeks ahead.

As our Lord says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega; the beginning and the end.” God is in our beginning and at our end and in all points in between. This is where our confidence and strength are found as we live into a new normal.

Robin Ruder-Celiz/All Saints Anglican Church