Good.

So, I’ve been quiet for a couple of weeks. It’s not for a lack of words – I have oh so many – rather, I feel like they are nothing new. Everyone has words about what’s going on in the world right now, and I wasn’t sure mine were important or eloquent enough to share. I wrote the following several days ago, and obviously a lot has changed even since then.

(8) This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (9) Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:8&9

In this passage, God is speaking to Joshua, preparing him to take over where Moses left off and lead the people into the promised land. As it is with a lot of old testament stories, I think it’s important to use as an example still today. We have a serious pandemic going on in our world. After brushing it off as not that bad for a while, I’m just starting to understand the gravity of it all. Schools are closing, events are being cancelled [there’s no basketball!😕], and people are freaking out – store shelves are empty (we just went to grab a few things we needed tonight and the store had zero gallons of milk and no toilet paper in sight?) I saw where someone had posted verse 9 on Facebook in reference to all of this, and decided to look it up. Verse 8 ended up seeming equally as important. God isn’t telling Joshua to go out and evangelize to these people, they have seen their share of miracles and were slow to understand. (Sound like anyone we know today? I’m talking about all of us, here.) All He told him to do was to ponder God’s word in his heart and live it out. He also very plainly commands Joshua, not just tells him, to not be afraid as he carries out the plans God has for him.

This pandemic is one of those things that I don’t understand the purpose of, but I KNOW God can use it for good. This definitely feels like one of those times where, as Christians, our actions are going to speak abundantly louder than our words. Because of what’s going on, people are facing not only inconvenience, but straight up hardships, and some even the danger of death. Plus, the world hasn’t stopped turning. Things that afflicted and burdened people every other day are still there – with the added stress of trying to keep themselves and those around them healthy. Life is hard for everyone right now, for some much more than others. People who have never even thought about food insecurity are faced with shortages, and those who already struggle with it are struggling even more. God can use this situation to soften and refocus our hearts if we let Him. His ways are so much higher and greater than we could ever imagine, but I want to be ready and prepared to be used in His plan. I can’t do that if I’m consumed with fear or defeat.

The world doesn’t need our preaching right now so much as they need our compassion and our help. They need us to be the hands and feet of Jesus just like we are called to be. God can and will take care of their spiritual needs through our physical work. I love how I already see communities coming together – strangers sharing supplies because they can’t be found at a store, people offering to run errands for those who shouldn’t get out, school districts going above and beyond to make sure that students are still fed, supported, and loved, even though school is out. Good will come of this, and I totally want to be a part of it!

Some things that have come about from this or have been exacerbated by it that I just feel the need to comment on:

• PLEASE refrain from sharing false information. It leads to confusion and chaos, and sometimes is downright dangerous. I’m not only
  talking about virus-related info, but closings and other rumors that are easily verified by checking the appropriate website. Do a little digging before you hit “share” PLEASE. (Ex. Holding your breath is not a test for the virus, calling customer service on the baby formula can will not result in a free case of formula, and Amazon is still currently shipping out all kinds of items, not just medical supplies and necessities.)
• Be considerate. Don’t be ridiculous. Hoarding 50 thousand rolls of toilet paper doesn’t do anything for you and it takes it away from those folks who might actually be out. Also, things don’t just magically appear on the store shelves all by themselves; someone, a person who, just like the rest of us, is trying not to get sick and keep their loved ones well, is delivering, unloading, and stocking the items you’re grumbling about not being there. These people are working hard. Be nice. Be considerate. At least be decent.
• I cannot say this loud enough: just because you don’t feel sick or are healthy enough to think you would more than likely be fine if you got it, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t follow the recommendations from experts and officials. Fine, you don’t have to worry about yourself. But please worry about those whose immune systems, for whatever reason, can’t fight for them. Worry about others. Can I say that again? The world doesn’t revolve around me, and it sure doesn’t revolve around you either. We need to take precautions for the good of EVERYONE.

I pray that our selfish world uses this time to take a step back, to ponder the importance and the worth of those around them. I pray that, as we are forced to slow down and spend time with those we love, we don’t take these moments for granted. Yes, it’s inconvenient. Yes, it’s different. But maybe, just maybe, humanity needed a little stir. Maybe we needed that reminder to appreciate the little things: the movie night, the family dinner, reading books with our children, and having real conversations with our spouses. Maybe we needed that push to care for others, that kick in the rear to be more thoughtful. Maybe, just maybe, this will change our perspective for years to come and shift our focus and concern to our whole community instead of just ourselves. Maybe.