10/7/20
I keep thinking about how this Pandemic has changed our lives, and wondering if some of these changes may become permanent.
When I was serving the Asbury UMC in Atlantic County, NJ, one of the faithful servants of that community passed away at an age over 90. I had been visiting her occasionally and got to know her and how she really wasn’t that comfortable in her assisted living facility. She longed for her own home and her dog. I wasn’t that surprised when I learned she had finally passed away. But the story I heard from her son tore at my heart.
It was early in the Pandemic, April of 2020. As she was declining, the family was not permitted in to the facility to see her. On her last day there was an attempt by the facility staff to allow some family members in to hold her hand or speak directly to her. But that didn’t happen. The family could only talk into their phone while one of the facility staff held their smart phone near her ear.
There wasn’t a funeral service at all. There will be a memorial gathering, but that still hasn’t been scheduled.
Trying to deal with the death of a family member during COVID-19 is challenging.
Things are beginning to loosen up just a little. A member of the faith community I now serve, Richmond UMC in Bangor, PA has a member who is on hospice and is declining.
This time I was able to go into the hospice facility where he is now staying to spend time with him and his wife.
I can’t overstate the importance of personal contact, especially at a time when a family member is declining and will soon enter into the arms of Jesus. No matter the technology, a personal touch, and a personal presence means so much.
Many, many families have had to struggle through the grief of losing someone close to them without the ability to be in close contact. My heart aches for each and every one who was not able to mourn the passing of a loved one with the physical support of the rest of the family and friends.
Caring for each other in this time of Pandemic is even more critical to our own personal wellbeing than it has and any other time in the past decade. Let us never forget the importance of family and friends, and the blessings of that personal touch when we are in the presence of those whom we love.
That is just one of the gifts of grace given to us by God.
Blessings
Pastor Peter
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