What a time to start writing about my thoughts, a time in history that will be considered one of the modern events that will redefine the way we live and think.
But will it?
On this day, April 6, 2020, the virus is moving through the world altering virtually every life on earth, which in itself is mind boggling. But strangely, this has brought me some comfort — I’m not in this by myself — it’s not about me.
If we were looking back at this time, what would you call this phase? Incubation? Preparation? Calm before the storm? For my house it would be called Reflection.
Most of us have been forced to slow down and “stay at home” while others are working harder and with more purpose than any other time in their life. Those would be our leaders, health care workers, scientists, law enforcement, military, truckers, store employees who are still employed and others working from home. But in both groups, we are forced to reflect on serious things like being careful, clean, observant of actions we normally don’t pay attention to, health, sickness, stability, the future.
When things quiet down — when you lay your head down or when you wake up, when your driving or taking a walk, or if you’re lucky enough to take a quiet time in the day, in the morning, what does your mind turn to? Fear? Hopelessness? Nothing solid to hold on to and trust?
Have you prepared yourself for something like this? You probably would say, “No way! How could anyone see this coming??!”
But I didn’t say, “Did you see this coming and prepare”. I asked are you prepared?
Have you laid a foundation, a set of beliefs, truth statements that cannot be moved from your mind, from your being? Do those truth statements evolve around you or do they center on something, someone solid, like a Rock?
Let me tell you about my Rock.
God is my Rock, the Rock. He is Creator of all things. He is eternal–no beginning and end. His knowledge is absolutely encompassing–there is nothing He does not know. And He loves me.
He is my Foundation, my Center. He cannot be moved, therefore I put my trust in Him. I center my beliefs in Him. I see everything in this life through what His Holy Spirit allows me to know and see about Him.
Therefore, I will not fear. I will not be afraid of sickness, trials or even death. I will not let fear rule me. I will not let this Covid interfere with my relationship with the Lord.
I will continue to love my neighbors. I will respect their health by being careful. Discerning what is “careful”, though, has become political. It’s hard to know what is true and what is exaggerated. I will error on the side of peace and try to respect others.
