Peace in the midst of trials and difficulties as we face the coronavirus

1. The Gathering Storm
Clouds
VICTORY OVER FEAR

2. Introduction
 For some time now I have had an urge to journal my
thoughts during these momentous times.
 Five months ago my 78th birthday was spent in the
hospital testing why I had stroke-like symptoms. In the
face of this Corona virus pandemic, and with immune
system challenges, the time is possibly drawing nigh.
Hence the urgency to share my thoughts with family and
friends.
 The last two days have brought the shutters down
here in sanitized Switzerland with alarming news of the
arrival of the virus here.

3. Home in Switzerland
 Switzerland has now the highest per capita infection rate
overtaking neighboring Italy. It along with France and Germany
have common borders, and all send tens of thousands of daily
workers across into Switzerland including many health workers.
 The fear here is that these countries will prohibit their health
workers from working in Switzerland bringing a crisis to the
Swiss health response.
 The atmosphere has gone from glib disbelief to a feeling of
doomsday overnight with almost 11,000 infections today and
150 deaths with expodential increases daily.

4. Gathering Storm
 I remember Winston Churchill’s book “The Gathering Storm”
of WWII in which he describes the impending ‘War to end all
Wars.’
 It mirrors today’s atmosphere. But where back then it was
humankind annihilating humankind, today it seems driven by
some unseen universal force to end humankind's self-inflicted
misery.
 These storm clouds are gathering once again but in
darker and gloomier billows reaching heavenly over the
Alps as they drive like a towering airborne Tsunami
from their Far East origins westward threatening to
level all in their path.

5. Mountaintop to Precipice
“I shall fear no evil”
 So here goes, my guts spilling forth. Six months ago
I was a Pilgrim on a path of life and enlightenment to the
promised mountaintop pinnacle of life.
 Today I stand at the precipice. This side is still
verdant mountaintop pasture with sun and edelweiss,
the next step seems to be the great Chasm into
darkness and chaos, total annihilation in what the Word
calls Armageddon.
 But oddly I lack any feeling of fear or terror. Maybe
like the Psalmist David: “Yea though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil.”

6. Why No Fear?
 Why? I am not sure. I would like to say it’s because
of my faith. Life eternal over death…but to be honest I
don’t know for sure. Maybe it’s because the road upward
is getting steeper…and I’m getting slower and more and
more out of breath…yearning for the next stage. Who
knows?
 The Psalmist David says that his fears are assuaged
by the Lord, his Shepherd whose rod and staff comfort
him. My faith tells me that this great Shepherd of my soul
has me in the power and authority of his hand and is
leading me to lie down in green pastures, beside the still
waters, restoring my soul. I want to believe this and that
he is with me despite the gathering storm and that I will
dwell in his house forever.

7. Will faith carry me past fear?
 Of course I believe it but when the time comes will I be able
to hold on to that belief? Thirty-six years ago I stood at the edge
of the precipice looking down into the great abyss and I knew
then that this great Shepherd existed and that I, like the wayward
Prodigal son, needed to return to my Father, the Shepherd and
return for onward guidance and for the peace of his house, his
pasture, his table…his way, truth and life.
 Since then I have tried to take others by their hands
(in the face of daily chaos and death) and share how I
and others have found this dwelling place of peace and
rest in green pastures and still waters provided by the
Great Shepherd of our souls.

8. Who is this that calms the storm?
 And now, why the hesitation in the face of this gathering
storm, this plague of evil? In the face of all that I know about the
Lord and his perfect Love which drives out all fear.
 I know and believe he chases away the storm clouds and
makes our plagues Passover us. I see and believe as he
passes over the houses with the blood of lambs to let his
threatened people go to freedom.
 I remember the story of him in the boat in the middle of the
Sea with his followers who become terrified as the wind and
waves threaten to capsize them: He who speaks gently to the
storm clouds as they rain down terror and they are immediately
neutralized and made into pink marshmallow puffs. Who is this
that commands even the wind and the waves? And they
become liked the still waters beside the green pasture.

9. Who is this that calms the tormented
soul and sets us free?
 Who is this that continues onto the other side of the
sea and brings peace and healing to the raging, demon
possessed man whose captors know and obey him and
are immediately driven out to free the possessed man?
 Yes of course, that's the same Shepherd of our souls,
who in the face of these Gathering Clouds, becomes
even more real, alive and vital as our life-line in the
valley of the shadow of death.

10. Jesus walks along side
 Walking alongside of us, helping our downcast eyes to focus
upward to see him as he puts his flesh on the Old Testament
prophesies and we see him and God’s plans for us all:
 Just like the two on the Road to Emmaus, He lifts their spirits,
and their eyes to the Hills from whence their help comes from
and they see Him as he breaks bread in fellowship with them.
 Yes as I spill forth my darkness He spills forth Light
and Love on it and it, like the raging sea is quelled. His
rod and staff have comforted me and he is here
renewing life in his perfect peace that goes beyond my
limited ken.

11. Jesus walks along side
 Tomorrow is another day into the lockdown and yet already
the light is streaming in through the shutters. The dark clouds
are dispersing, and the light of Christ, Yeshua Hamashea, the
Morning Star, is shining forth Ray's of hope, peace and renewed
understanding.
 His Love casts out all doubt and fear and my soul is restored.
How lovely is his dwelling place!
 My blown up doubts and fears are vanished and he is here
with me, with us, our Rock and Salvation, our redeemer Yeshua,
Jesus the Christ.

12. Come Jesus Christ is calling
 Are you still in the midst of the Gathering Storm Clouds,
shuttered in darkness and fear? Remember him who quelled the
storm clouds and the raging sea.
 Remember him who brought the long enslaved, raving man
into the light and set him in freedom and peace. Remember him
who gave his Shalom, Peace to the terrified disciples shuttered in
the upper room.
 Jesus Christ walking beside each one of us calling us to
follow him beside the still waters, into the green pastures, calling
us to his table set for us, and he holds the bread of life in his
hands. “Come, take eat, this is my body broken for you.
 He offers himself, to quell our doubts and fears, his dwelling
place to give us shelter, peace and comfort. Come Jesus Christ
is calling, you and me. Will you come too?

13. The 23rd Psalm
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s
sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine
enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

14. The 23rd Psalm
6 Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me all the days
of my life: and
I will dwell in the house of
the LORD for ever.