Two Boats and a Helicopter

     As my sister and I were serving in the kitchen for a funeral luncheon Saturday, she said, "I wonder if any Christians who die of Covid get to heaven and God says, "I told you to get the vaccine!" Interesting thought, especially since my sister is not vaccinated. Our church has had two funerals in just a few weeks. The first man was unvaccinated but, at 68, in really good shape. He had recently out-hiked twenty somethings as he prepared for an upcoming elk hunt. He had, however, some scarring in his lungs from GERD/reflux and that, plus Covid, caused blood clots, one of which led to a heart attack. He was in the hospital at the time and on blood thinners, but there is no way to prevent that particular complication. God is sovereign, so I assume this was his appointed time, but wouldn't it be sad if he found out in heaven that he could have had his elk hunt, not to mention more time with his family, if he had taken the vaccine.

   The funeral Saturday was for a 76 year old man who had been vaccinated, but had so many preexisting conditions that, though he survived Covid, his already weak heart could not recover from the strain. Ted's family gathered around his bed to say goodbye. When his son suggested family prayer, Ted was the first to pray. His physical heart was failing, but his heart for the Lord was strong as ever.

    There is an old joke about the Christian caught in a flood who turned down two rescue boats and a helicopter because God was going to save him. After he drowned, he asked the Lord why he didn't rescue him and the Lord said, "I sent two boats and a helicopter!" What if the vaccine is like that? Why do Christians who believe God can save them from Covid believe He can't protect them from potential side effects of the vaccine? 

    After my husband's description of a friend's experience with Covid--lost 22 lbs. because he couldn't keep anything down, potassium so low it could have caused a heart attack, body aches so bad it hurt to text, fingertips blue from lack of oxygen--I felt better about being vaccinated. As a Christian, I have no great fear of death, but I can't say the same about suffering. No one wants to die of diarrhea. Since the people I know who are getting infected now have not changed their lifestyles or places they go, I am resigned to eventually developing Covid, but I am hoping my experience will be more like that of my vaccinated Dad, brother and older friends at church--minor cold symptoms. I can handle that. Nausea, diarrhea, aching, blue body parts--not so much. 

   There are things I hope to hear from the Lord after I die. If not ,"Well done my good and faithful servant", at least, "Welcome home." But there are also things I don't want to hear, such as, "I sent you two boats and a helicopter!" And especially not, "What are you doing here?"