Just look at those eyes.  This poor pup normally has this look on his face, even when he’s content.  Put a cage in front of him or any other animal and that face becomes desperate, hopeless, disturbed and so much more.  

Have we become like caged animals during this pandemic?  I don’t really think so.  For some, it’s life as usual. They’ve chosen to shop without masks and gloves.  They resist the fact that they should stay socially distanced by six feet or more.  These same folks will stand on top of someone to get what they want.  They push their way through a line because they apparently think they deserve to.  They also avoid the speed limit even more than they did before.  They look at the law as a limitation.

I’m just as guilty as the next guy.  Most of my friends order their groceries on line.  I prefer to see what I’m buying before I hand over the cash.  I’ve run out of latex gloves.  I do wear a bandana around my neck, but only put it over my mouth when I pass another person. I’ve hugged my daughter and her family and I’ve hugged my son.  I refuse to stop living.

Our governor has lifted the restrictions on some small businesses this week – restaurants, bars and salons.  These could be considered essential I guess, but what about our churches?  Those, in my opinion, are extremely essential. I would love to see my friends and my pastor in person.  I’d also love to partake in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. It seems that we’re being required to distance ourselves from all the things that were important to us before.

I know we should follow the laws and requirements of our state and national leaders. Laws are made for our protection and the protection of our fellow man.  They’re not simply suggestions.  They’ve been adopted by our representatives into law.  The same is true of the Law which God handed down to Moses.  Those aren’t simple “how to” or “maybes.”  They are Laws designed for us to live according to what God expects from us.

Unfortunately, we all fall short whether it’s in obeying the law of the land or following God’s rules for living. They were both instituted for our good, for our safety and for our well being and yet we’re guilty of picking and choosing which of those laws we want to follow.

Stepping outside the boundaries is great when we’re trying to think outside the box, but we all need the structure and containment that law requires of us.  Our cages will be open soon and we’ll again be allowed to live as we once did, but I pray that we will have learned some valuable lessons from this worldwide event.  God will bring order from chaos.  I know that is true, because God has told me so through His Holy Word, the Bible.