A Sense of Normalcy
Dear Church,
We are into the month of October already. That means fresh apple picks, the wonderful scenery of colour changes, and the crisp cold morning air, among many others. Remember this time last year? Without an approved vaccine in sight, we were nervous and scared about the approaching cold season. We feared that the new virus was going to be much more active and resilient as we increased our time of indoor activities. The fear became a reality by the late fall of 2020, when the number of new cases steadily rose, reaching its peak in January and then once again in April. Each time, the Ontario government issued a lockdown to curve the spread. These lockdowns took a real toll on our mental health and financial stability.
Thank God that this fall feels very different from last year’s! For one, most of us are now fully vaccinated, and we are not as afraid of the cold season as before. Although it is still too early to tell, we are going to have a much safer winter and hopefully without any lockdowns. What a difference vaccinations make!
The way to beat the pandemic is to have everyone fully vaccinated (including children) and to follow the safety protocols. It is sad to see those hospitalized with COVID-19 nowadays. Most of them are not vaccinated or partially vaccinated. Much of the pain and anguish could be avoided if only they were vaccinated. Some refuse their shots fervently on religious grounds. For them, it is tantamount to receiving the Beast’s mark according to the book of Revelation. I just do not see how the two are related. Any attempt to have a meaningful discussion with them is impossible.
The way forward is to open our lives more and try to return to a sense of normalcy. While safety is our utmost priority, we must do our best to pick up our lives where we left off. We must learn to live with the pandemic somehow. At the last Session meeting, we, the elders, decided to open Young Nak Retreat Centre to individual church members for their personal retreats. There are five rooms on the first floor that have direct access from outside via patio doors. There are also two prayer cabins in the back. These spaces are safe for individuals (and their families) without crisscrossing others. Why don’t you plan an overnight personal retreat there? I am hoping that soon we can open the inside facility of the retreat centre. The Session will continue to monitor the situation and then decide when to open.
I pray that you will be bold in living with the pandemic. Do get yourself fully vaccinated and boldly return to a sense of normalcy.
May the LORD bless you and keep you strong.
Pastor Minho Song
