The Ides of March, 2021—even better than expected
By Stephen Reeves
“Beware the Ides of March,” Julius Cesar is warned in Shakespeare’s famous play.
But March 15, 2021, was a day I had been looking forward to for weeks—and one for which I had hoped and prayed for even longer. This was the day I would start as executive director of Fellowship Southwest. Even though I’d start by sitting down at my desk in my home office just as I had for a full year thanks to the pandemic, this first day was still exciting. It did not go as planned.
It started with an unexpected software update that rendered my computer useless for about 40 minutes, but then proceeded as you might expect. Setting up my new email address. A Zoom meeting with Marv and Cameron to outline this week’s newsletter. Another Zoom with Marv to discuss our upcoming board meeting, a draft of a new operations manual, status of our franchise tax exemption application, advocacy opportunities, pastors and churches in the area, and an update on the latest of what we’re hearing from our partners ministering on the border.
After my last Zoom meeting, the afternoon took an unexpected turn. Deborah walked into my office and asked, “Do you want to go get your COVID vaccine?” A friend had just posted on Facebook that a pharmacy nearby had extra doses and was taking walk-ins for anyone eligible. I decided it was worth the chance.
I spent the next several hours with a friendly, diverse group of a few dozen folks waiting on a life-changing miracle of modern science. Getting dose No. 1 of the Pfizer vaccine was not on my schedule for the day, but a fresh start and a new beginning certainly was.
In March of 2020, none of us could know what the year would bring. The incalculable loss of loved ones, the isolation, the painful opening of our festering racial wounds, the threat to democracy, the suffering of neighbors at our border; it was almost overwhelming. I had no idea that in a year I would become executive director of Fellowship Southwest, but I’m grateful for this opportunity and so very grateful it comes at a moment of real hope.
Monday was an even better day than I expected. On Monday, I was able to take a step toward a post-pandemic life. Please, go get your vaccine as soon as you can, so we can get to work together, in person, shoulder-to-shoulder and hand-in-hand. We’re on the edge of new life, but this past year has proven we have lots of work to do.
Stephen Reeves is executive director of Fellowship Southwest.