In case you missed these barely-noticed elements of daily life in COVID-19 times, let me share below some things I’ve noticed lately. They may not warrant the full treatment of a blog posting, but still might deserve just an iota of your attention! *Iota Are there any large iotas? Could they add flavor to a kale salad? Is iota another name for dust bunnies? Will most iotas survive this pandemicMORE...
My wife and I are coming to the end of our second week of COVID-19 stay-at-home living. Chris put this experience into perspective a few days ago, when we were deciding what to do together. “Lord knows, we have the time,” she observed. “We can artfully sculpt our time into a beautiful day.” To be honest with you, I’ve had trouble accepting the blessing of abundant time. On the one hand, the giftMORE...
Over the past week or so, I’ve been waiting for the coronavirus news to settle down. Here’s why: Whether out of prudence, trying to fill empty leadership niches or injecting trust and truth back into the emotional economy, leaders of all kinds have been filling my mailbox with assurances and information. I appreciate their thoughtfulness. This is probably a once-in-a-lifetime crisis, andMORE...
There’s a lot of caution going around now. Everywhere, it seems. As a preface for almost any announcement, caution-abundance carries the same amount of linguistic freight as the well-worn phrase, “We take (fill in the blanks) very seriously.” Assured by plentiful prudence, readers/viewers know that whatever they see/hear will be well-infused with the presumably admirable trait of caution. Lots ofMORE...
I don’t know if it’s just me, but this year’s Lenten season seems especially essential, relatable and inviting of my spirit. Lent themes and emotions seem strongly connected to current events almost everywhere I look. Thoughts arising out of the *COVID-19 outbreak are a good example. Perhaps Lent has gone viral? Lent calls me to confess my sinfulness, to seek forgiveness and to hope dearly forMORE...
Because of widespread concerns about COVID-19, physical touching now brings special considerations to my life. I can’t touch my face—germs might sneak into my nose. Touching others during the Greeting of Peace is not medically advised. (See earlier note about shifty viruses.) I am cautioned not to come in contact with surfaces that are not yet cleansed of viral microorganisms. “SocialMORE...
Sometimes a word gets stuck in my mind and won’t leave until I bathe it in other words. The process of my word-mulling sometimes takes awhile, which can result in a properly aged expression—let’s say, moreover?—ready for use in blogs for older adults! At its simplest, moreover means something like “And in addition…” That works in a Bible passage like, “Moreover, it is required of stewards thatMORE...
Sometimes the smallest acts of civic engagement help justice to count. I think that Census2020 might be an example. In another week or so, you and millions of others will receive in the mail a letter detailing how to submit your household’s 2020 census information online. Should you not choose to complete the form in that fashion, the Census Bureau will mail you a paper version. If, for someMORE...
A few days ago, our English as a Second Language (ESL) program hosted an informative presentation regarding Census2020. The tutors and the students learned about the process and the content of this nation-wide plan for counting everyone in the United States. The program, presented in English and translated into Arabic and Amharic, provided all of us what we need in anticipation of receiving theMORE...
BOB SITZE has filled the many years of his lifework in diverse settings around the United States. His calling has included careers as a teacher/principal, church musician, writer/author, denominational executive staff member and meat worker. Bob lives in Wheaton, IL.