Friday, November 20, 2020
Although we in New Jersey at least have seen a big drop in unemployment claims, more than 1.1 million persons filed new unemployment claims across the country. The stock market continues to climb but it does not reflect the economic reality on the ground because unemployment benefits for many have run out and the current Treasury Secretary says he will allow several emergency lending programs to expire in spite of what the central bank urges.
During this time of emergency Senate, majority leader McConnell diddles refusing to come to an agreement with the House proposal for emergency relief. It reminds one of how Hoover and his Congress just sat back during the Depression. And we all just hope we’ll make it through Christmas.
We cling to hope. So now Anthony Fauci, more trusted than any other person in our government, referring to the news of vaccine, says, “The cavalry is coming,” Let’s hope that the wagon train hasn’t been wiped out by the time it arrives.
Prayer for the Day
“Deliver us!” we cry with the Psalmist, “Deliver us in our need.
Deliver us from politicians who care more about their own power.”
We look for signs of hope; we fear an apocalypse.
We cry with the Baptizer: “Prepare ye the way of the Lord!”
Hold us in your arms, O God, as a mother holds her child
And let hope emerge as the sun on a clear morning.
In the name of him who gives us hope,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die,
Life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly. . . .
Langston Hughes, American poet (1902–1967)
In a time of destruction, create something
Maxine Hong Kingston, American novelist
Those who trust in God are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so God surrounds God’s people,
from this time on and forevermore.
Psalm 125:1–2