Sunday, October 25, 2020
Yesterday the Governor announced that cases coming into the weekend had almost doubled over the high numbers for the past week. The number 1994 had not been seen since May 5. Figuring we should be better safe than sorry, he extended the public health emergency for an additional 30 days.
The biggest increase was in Essex County with almost 400 new cases. I’m certainly not surprised. Driving down Broad Street after being at USCIS, I was amazed to see the number of persons walking down a crowded street without masks not to mention just chatting with each other.
There is good news, however. More than 4.34 million of us here in New Jersey have been tested and the positivity rate was 5.28 percent. Sounds low but it goes to show that a few can infect a lot, so keep masking and washing your hands or using hand sanitizer. Our ancestors persevered under far worse conditions. So can we.
Prayer for the Day
In the quiet of the morning renew our spirits, O Lord,
And open our minds to new ways to find you;
In the bustle of the day revive our hearts
And break the seal we create around our hearts.
Center our lives in you, O God, for you are the center of all,
A light of life in a world dark with death
In the name of him who shows us how to live,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
In prayer, it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.
John Bunyan, English Puritan preacher & writer (1628–1688)
For me, prayer is a surge of the heart, a simple look towards heaven. It is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.
St. Therese of Lisieux, Carmelite nun (1873–1897)
The Lord is king and is robed in majesty;
the Lord is robed and girded with strength.
The Lord has established the world;
it shall never be moved;
your throne is established from of old;
you are from everlasting.
Psalm 93: 1–2