And the Beat Goes On. . .

Trigger Warning... some nostalgia ahead. In 1967, Sonny & Cher had a tune entitled "The Beat Goes On" with these opening lyrics... "And the beat goes on, the beat goes on, drums keep pounding a rhythm to the brain, La de da de de, la de da de da."

I am not exactly sure how it happened but that song title popped into my head today as I was again reading the NWI Times and COVID-19 Update that appears each and every day in the paper. It is a daily ritual for me to look at that update each day, every day... it is a beat that goes on. The statistics for Indiana, for NW Indiana and for Porter County are updated daily as to number of new cases, number of total cases and, of course, the number of new deaths and total deaths attributed to this virus. It strikes me that in our sixth month of this pandemic, maybe we are getting numb to the statistics and sometimes forget this is not just a numbers game, rather, these statistics reflect the number of human lives directly impacted by this virus, actual people who are dealing with it or have dealt with it personally. And yet, the numbers do not really reflect the number of total lives affected because for every individual who gets the virus, there are numerous others who are indirectly affected... immediate family members, other relatives, friends, acquaintances, people who they are in contact with for a variety of purposes. It is the peripheral and tangential people connections that amplify the impact of this virus on multitudes of other people.

The statistics can be scary, sobering, hopeful, reassuring, trending in one direction or another... but they are just numbers until you realize those numbers represent real people, with names and with families. There are people who are scared, nervous or just uncertain; and then there are those who are unafraid, not too worried or just hoping for the best. It all changes when someone you know or someone in your family gets the virus. Then you are scared for them, you do worry about how they will handle it and you pray that it will turn out all right for them... and for you.

We are a family at FPCV and when one of our own gets sick or hurt: we worry, we pray and we try to be there as best we can for them. Our faith and our caring for each other comes to the forefront; and I think this is what makes us a strong congregation, a congregation that does not have to see each other each week in our church building to continue our mutual caring and concern. It appears it is going to be a while before we are again worshiping together, but the frequent contacts being made between members, the 'just checking on you' calls and emails, the Zoom meetings and our virtual worship and education sessions have been strong evidence of the resourcefulness, resilience and consistency of this church family. We are so fortunate to be a part of it.

In the meantime... the beat goes on.

Blessings to all,

Jim Hubbard