this long journey

Today in the One Year Bible, we read from Numbers 21:1-22:20. Verse 4 says the people grew impatient with the long journey and they griped about Moses and Aaron.

So much is contained in that one little phrase. They grew impatient with the long journey.

We're on a long journey, too. We traveling through the valley of the shadow of Corona death these days. Yes, some people are overreacting and (for some inscrutable reason) hoarding toilet paper. Other people are taking the whole thing too lightly, since there is the potential for this to become a global disease, infecting virtually everyone, in which case hundreds of millions of people could die. We don't want to err in either direction. Panicking doesn't help. Neither does ignoring the issue. We want to take calm, reasoned measures to contain the virus and minimize the death.

But stepping back from the pandemic, we are on a longer journey. We all have our crosses to carry. Many of us have waited for things for years and years.... some are waiting for children. Some are waiting for marriage. Some are waiting for that job they've always wanted. All of us are waiting for the day when we'll see God face to face.

So let's be patient on our long journey. Let's encourage one another. Let's pray for those who struggle. And we'll make it together in the end.

God, thanks for encouraging us on our long journey.