James 4:13-17 NASB
Come now, you who say,
“Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city,
and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit."
Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.
You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.
Instead, you ought to say,
“If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.”
But as it is, you boast in your arrogance;
all such boasting is evil.
Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do
and does not do it,
to him it is sin.

How many times have I said, "Lord willing, we're going to…" ?

For the past 6 months, or so, I've told many people, "In March [2020], Lord willing, JC & I are going to travel east and spend time with our beloved family & friends."

I've waited so long to see my son Jacob, and many times I've envisioned myself running to him and embracing him. I've seen photos of him since he joined the Army almost a year ago (in 7 days will be his one-year anniversary!), and I know when I see him I will recognize his transformation into manhood, not only in his broader shoulders, but also in the way he carries himself.

In addition, we planned to travel with Ken & Rhonda Bever and Hope for Haiti's Children to Haiti. Recently we paid for the trip, and Ken made the airline reservations. For JC & me, it has been a much-anticipated time of fellowship we've been looking forward to. But, unfortunately, a change in plans occurred when Ken called us and said the state department had raised their Haiti Travel Advisory to a Level 4.

Haiti - Level 4: Do Not Travel
Do not travel to Haiti due to crime, civil unrest, and kidnapping.
Country Summary: Violent crime, such as armed robbery and carjacking, is common. Kidnapping is widespread. Kidnappers may use sophisticated planning or take advantage of unplanned opportunities. Victims have included U.S. citizens.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Haiti.html

Who knew, in the upcoming month of March, evil men would commit violent crimes in Haiti and thwart our efforts to fellowship with our brethren there?

God knew.

Ken stated, "God has closed the door on our trip to Haiti."

Even though I was greatly disappointed, I was very grateful for clear direction. Regarding our trip to Haiti, I had prayed many times, "Lord, if this is my plan, and not Yours, then please close that door."

How many times have I prayed, "Lord, I'll do anything You say - just please make it (Your plan) clear."?

Revelation 3:6-7 NASB
'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'
"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David,
who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens"

Next, we became aware of another threat. The Coronavirus.
While we made travel plans and international flight reservations, who knew a disease of pandemic proportions would break out?

God knew.

We had already given notice to our landlord of our intent to vacate our apartment. JC had given notice to his employer of his plan to end his employment at the dealership. Since then, we had been doing a lot of preparing. After the cancellation of our international trip, we had to do some rethinking. We had been packing clothing, gear, toiletries, footwear, bedding and numerous other items according to the anticipated upcoming events: travel east, fly to & from Haiti, spend time with loved ones in Virginia; and, upon our return to Iowa, resume the American Discovery Trail. But, having no longer to prepare for activities in Haiti, things have to be unpacked and repacked.

Meanwhile, this is our last week in our apartment.

Or, is it?

I should say, we have anticipated this being our last week in our apartment.

Most of you have probably remained, to some extent, informed of the worldwide unfolding of the virus and its effects; and how our government is attempting to handle how it affects us here in America. Up until a few days ago, JC & I had plentiful access to informative news coverage at the gym where we exercise. Above the equipment, suspended from the ceiling, is a long line of television sets tuned in to a variety of networks. While I pedaled on the elliptical machine, I tended to watch HGTV while keeping an eye on the other networks and headlines. Occasionally, I would switch to FOX News to get the latest on the virus.

It's easy to think of it as 'over there', and be glad 'it's not here', isn't it?

On Monday, JC began his last week at his job and I continued making steady progress at home, working & packing. We had been exercising mild precautions like: frequently wash your hands, don't touch your face (Yeah, right!), avoid unnecessary contact, carry a ten-foot pole -> No! It's a 6-foot distance we are to maintain! I admit, being able to laugh at some of the lighthearted posts on Facebook has brought some relief. Please know it doesn't decrease our acknowledgment of, and compassion for, those who are suffering.

JC & I have, for weeks, not only been excitedly preparing our stuff for our trip, but also our thinking for the upcoming change in lifestyle. You might call it a scaling-down of comfort & convenience, but not quite as extreme as the transition we go through when we put on our backpacks and set out on-foot. Travelling in a 4-wheeled, motorized vehicle is still what we consider a luxury. So, for our trip east, which is about an 18-hour drive, we've been preparing for a variety of accommodations. Friends have invited us to visit them in their homes; and since hotels are available at a fairly high cost, we packed our camping gear in preparation for sleeping some of the time outdoors. In addition, because we have a Planet Fitness membership, and they have locations, like, allover the place, we've been saying, "We can work out and wash up at Planet Fitness!" For the most part, we haven't made a lot of firm plans and, since everybody works, we have all agreed to 'play it by ear'.

Then, on Monday, as JC began his last week at work and I was working & packing at home, he called me at approximately 11:50am. "Where are you? Have you done laundry yet?"

me: "No, I'm on the computer."

my husband: "Marshalltown is closing down at noon."

What?

My mind raced while bits & pieces of his words entered into my consciousness, "The gym's closing…Aldi's packed…library…get started on the laundry (in our apartment facility)…"

me: "I don't have quarters. I was planning to go to the laundromat."

So, after JC stopped by the laundromat (everything we do in life, except for assembly with the body of Christ, happens within a 3-mile radius of our apartment) and was informed by the attendant, "I'll stay open til I'm told otherwise.", I asked, "What time is it now?"

JC: "11:53."

me: "Okay, I gotta go. Love you. Bye."

After a hasty, mental prioritization based on the information I'd been given, I hauled 3 baskets of laundry (along with detergent, bleach, dryer sheets, etc.) down to the van; then grabbed the one movie DVD I'd checked out, my 6-item grocery list, my purse & keys, and raced out the door. There were quite a few people at the grocery store, and several empty shelves. Crossing over Center Street to the gas station, the 3 vehicles ahead of me pulled in too. As I drove past Planet Fitness, on the way to the Maytag Laundry and Tanning (yeah, I know), the weight of its closure fell heavily upon me. I imagined the laundromat would be bursting at the seams. In contrast, however, I found it nearly empty. My last stop was our local public library. I can't help but recall what a much-needed resource & refuge it was for us upon our arrival here in Marshalltown, over a year ago, just days after the tornado. Unlike the wake of that storm, this recent pandemic has closed its doors.

The apostle Paul, in one of his letters to the brethren in Corinth, wrote:

1 Corinthians 4:16-20 NASB
Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.
For this reason I have sent to you Timothy,
who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord,
and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ,
just as I teach everywhere in every church.
Now some have become arrogant,
as though I were not coming to you.
But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills,
and I shall find out,
not the words of those who are arrogant but their power.
For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.

'But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills…'

As the world around us gets smaller, our boundaries increase.

With changes occurring, sometimes daily, JC & I find ourselves rethinking and adjusting our plans. Not only can we not count on utilizing the gym on our trip, we also discovered state parks are now closed. We recognize we'll be able to get gas & groceries, but I had looked forward, also, to public places like restaurants and libraries along the way for writing and bible reading.

More & more, I find I'm reconsidering what is most important to us.

Tuesday evening brought a change in weather and the barometric pressure. Consequently, I wasn't surprised when my sinuses throbbed and my head ached. I also developed a runny nose. Then, yesterday morning I said to JC, "My throat is kind of scratchy." It wasn't long before we began reviewing the signs & symptoms of "the virus". This, after 3 back-to-back phone conversations with dear ones in Ohio and Virginia we look forward to seeing. I'm thankful I have not 2 of the 3 defining symptoms of COVID-19: fever and a cough. Nonetheless, JC has wisely decided he'll be doing most or all of the errand running, keeping me at home.

Am I anxious, fearing things getting worse than they already are?

Yes. Definitely.

When, today, I pray: "Lord, Your will be done.", do I mean it?

I admit, with heart-pounding, anxiety-ridden trepidation, I do.

Times like this, I try really hard to put things in proper perspective. When I step back from myself and my personal desires, by faith I can recognize the more purposeful big picture. In doing so, the word of God is my guide.

My Lord, the good shepherd, prayed words to which I can relate:

And He withdrew from them about a stone’s throw,
and He knelt down and began to pray, saying,
“Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me;
yet not My will, but Yours be done.”
- the Son of God, Luke 22:41-42 NASB

Here's the part where I gain proper perspective. The Son of God, the Christ - He who was without sin - knew He was going to be violently persecuted, crucified and put to death.

Romans 5:1-11 NASB
Therefore, having been justified by faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith
into this grace in which we stand;
and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations,
knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
and perseverance, proven character; and proven character,
hope; and hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts
through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
For while we were still helpless,
at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
For one will hardly die for a righteous man;
though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us,
in that while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.
Much more then, having now been justified by His blood,
we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
For if while we were enemies
we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son,
much more, having been reconciled,
we shall be saved by His life.
And not only this,
but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

If I pray for an open door, Lord, please let it be according to Your plan & purpose in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 4:2-4 NASB
Devote yourselves to prayer,
keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;
praying at the same time for us as well,
that God will open up to us a door for the word,
so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ,
for which I have also been imprisoned;
that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak.

1 John 5:14 NASB
This is the confidence which we have before Him,
that, if we ask anything according to His will,
He hears us.