The Bungee Cord 6-2-25

Hello,

Maybe this has happened to you? I was in the middle of Ohio at a rest stop getting a sandwich at Pinera. As I was ordering, suddenly a feather fluttered in my nose, and I had to sneeze….which I did. I turned from the young man at the computer, placed my forearm over my mouth and sneezed. Achoo! Even before I had a chance to turn around, I heard from the young man, “Bless you.”

Another time, I was in a grocery store hunting for something, and that feather started fluttering in my nose again. I had to sneeze. And I did. Achoo! And not sooner than having finished my “choo”, all the way down from the end of aisle I heard, “Bless you.”

I happen to sneeze often. I am on a blood pressure medicine that causes congestion and thus sneezing. Regularly, my random sneezes are met by the same response, “Bless you.” Perfect strangers. People who I have never seen before. People who have no idea who I am, upon hearing my distress are quick to respond, “Bless you.”

Do they mean it?

I have heard that in times long gone, it was believed that a sneeze was the expulsion of evil spirits blasting into the air, thus the response of protection from those who have just been unleashed into the world. “Bless you.” Actually, “God bless you.”

Seems a bit silly to continue to offer this response to sneezing, “Bless you.” Most of us…all of us…know that sneezes have nothing to do with evil spirits. Maybe a cold. Maybe allergies. Maybe dust in the air. But evil spirits? No. So, in my thinking, I don’t really believe that the bless-or means anything at all of what comes from their lips.

At the end of worship services in the churches at which I preside, I speak a benediction, or a blessing, over the congregation. “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”….or…. “The blessings of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit be upon you now and forever.”

Unlike the responders to my sneezing, I know that when I speak the Benediction, I definitely mean what I am saying. I am not one who professes the existence of lurking evil spirits, but I do believe, with all my heart, that the world can be a pretty rough place. Pressures from all sorts of places - work, family, school, finances - bearing down and ready to crush us. Cruel words that have the power to spear us to our hearts. Mistakes that try and shackle us in dungeons of shame. Illnesses and disease that stalk us like a lion. It is a tough world into which people are stepping when they leave worship.

So, before they step out into the world, I pronounce upon them God’s blessings. Blessings that bear the depth of God’s love, so deep that God would give his life for his beloved. Blessings that bear the powerful companionship of God, a companionship so strong that is melted together in the sacrament of Holy Communion. Blessings that bear the promise of God that nothing will be able to snatch God’s beloved from his hand

The world is a tough place, but we do not face it alone. God is with us! So, as you step into the world today, “God bless you!”

Have a great day.

God’s grace and peace, (ggap)

Pastor Jerry Nuernberger

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