This aggravating, disgusting virus may be one weird way of linking us together…..but it is one thing COVID-19 has accomplished besides sickness, death, greed, panic, fear and unrest.  [As always, God is always in the business of bringing something good out of the bad that he does NOT cause….but we will get into that later].

Now, we’ve always had a FEW things in common prior to this chaos:  We are all part of the human race, created by the same God.  We all bleed red.  We all need oxygen, food and water to live.  We all desire shelter, and a majority of us desire love.  We are sons and daughters and many of us have spouses and children. Yes, we’ve always had a FEW things in common, but now, we have more similarities than ever before.

We are all facing a certain level of uncertainty.  Whether upper, middle or lower class….we are all somewhat in the same boat.  Whether a public figure or a private figure, we can relate to one another.  Yes, money and status still doesn’t hurt, but it can only do so much to help a person right now.

It may mean you can stock up on a few more groceries and some extra supplements….and it may mean you can quarantine in a larger home with more entertainment present….but it doesn’t mean you are excused from the virus.  It doesn’t mean your job is secure.

The world hasn’t stopped spinning, but our individual lives are a bit on pause.  Oh, they’re moving alright.  But, most of us cannot accomplish what we normally can.

Yes, our medical professionals, first responders, truck drivers, grocery store workers, factory workers and farmers courageously remain at work…..so that we can eat and remain healthy.

Some of us (both my husband and I) are still able to work from our laptops at home.

Still….for most…..

The corporate ladder climbing has been postponed.

Rush hour is now quiet hour.

The games, concerts and movies will just have to wait.

…..There aren’t any sports scores to check.

……Pop culture is suffering.  It’s so much quieter.  Being famous is suddenly so much less important than it once was.  (Which I have to admit is one of the few things I haven’t minded).  Even most celebrity news in some way mentions COVID-19.

…..The daily selfies and self-promotion posts have decreased.  Narcissism cannot thrive quite like it once did.  At the least, the narcissist is getting less validation these days.

At this moment in time, we are all one in the same.  In this hour, it’s become apparent who the real heroes are……and they are the first responders, medical professionals, farmers, truckers, factory workers, grocery store workers, teachers, etc.  They’ve always been the heroes, but they’re just now finally getting the recognition they’ve always deserved.  I’m enjoying that fact, if not much else.

Yes.  In this hour…the sports are ripped away.  The music is quieter. Filming of our favorite TV shows is now halted.  Travel is suspended.

What is most important, is now staring right at us…..in this hour.

…Because in this hour we are forced to look at our homes and forced to examine our relationship with the people in them.

People are more concerned with essentials than they are with luxuries.

……..Nearly all the distractions are gone.  The noise is off.

…….The bare bones of our world have been exposed.  The chance to look at what matters and what doesn’t is here.

Until now, have we been filling our lives with a lot of clutter we don’t need?  When it comes right down to it, have we been carrying a load we don’t need to carry?  Is our version of productivity really productivity?

I’ve certainly been guilty of living fruitlessly, all while having good intentions.  I’ve stayed busy, thinking busy made me productive.  Is it just me, or do we all do that from time to time?

Do we ever find ourselves sincerely seeking God in crisis, tragedy and uncertainty…..but then, when life turns to normal do we kind of just revert back to our normal, comfortable, way of living?  Do we just kind of get unhealthily busy with the things of this world all over again?

I can’t help but think about 9-11.

Remember how we all came together and prayed during that time?

You can say we didn’t forget 9-11….and I wouldn’t say we did entirely….BUT if we had remembered it as we should…..how did pop culture, greed and living contrary to the Bible become so prominent and popular again?

Why did the things of this world very clearly become idols again?

This country may not have forgotten the tragedy, but it seems that the stillness was forgotten.  It seems that the mindset was forgotten.

The “being thankful for every day and living every day like it’s your last” mindset hasn’t seemed to be the continued sentiment by and large.  I’m not pointing my finger or speaking to one person.  I’m not saying I’m not sometimes guilty myself.

Do some live every day thankful like I speak of?  OF COURSE.  Maybe you’re reading this right now and thinking, hey, I’ve never left that mindset.

I myself like to think I’ve always been a very thankful, never take anything for granted person.  I’ve been living that way for awhile…..but I have to admit I wasn’t quite expecting people to start fighting over toilet paper just yet.  I’m speaking of the general tone of our fast-paced, selfish world, here.

Somewhere along the way we all become too busy again.

Too concerned about the temporary and the fleeting.

Overly concerned about celebrities and athletes who don’t even know or care that we exist.

When things like 9-11 and COVID-19 happen, we see how powerless we are.

We have to question if our usual busyness is really fruitfulness……or if it is in fact just uselessness?

If America truly let 9-11 change it, why has God’s face been spat in so much for the past 19 years?

Why does this nation forget God when things go back to normal?

Will the same happen with COVID-19?  Will this nation forget that we aren’t automatically entitled to a well-stocked grocery store?  That we aren’t entitled to good health?  Our jobs?  Traveling?  A full sports arena?  A night out with friends?  Being able to physically attend our churches?

Maybe we should live every day more like we did during 9-11 and like we do during COVID-19…..more like we are in a quarantine where every single item and person we have is a blessing.

Stop…..smell the flowers…..cherish the fresh air….be thankful.

If you live in Nashville, you also recently experienced the tornado RIGHT before the pandemic hit.  We never really had a break.  We went straight from disaster to pandemic.  Though we personally were blessed to be missed by about 0.4 of a mile, we spent days without power.

Nearby homes and businesses were destroyed.  Lives were lost. I felt guilty for even wishing the power would come back on.  It seemed so petty.  So not fair.

….And I will never ever forget taking shelter in that bathtub holding my innocent, sleeping, (almost 8 mo. old), daughter.  Suddenly NOTHING else mattered except her safety, my husband’s safety, my dog’s safety and our salvation.

As I heard the tornado loud and clear, it sounded like the loudest jet I’ve ever heard (and we live close to the airport).

For a second, I thought about how “this” could be it.

But deep down, I believed we were being protected….and that we still had more to do for the kingdom.

And there it is guys.

Why don’t we live every day as if nothing else matters except love, the word of God and everyone’s salvation?  Why don’t we live every day thankful that God has given us another chance?

There is nothing wrong in itself with entertainment, sports, music and things that aren’t especially significant…..But maybe [with] those things, we should live every day a little more like we do during a national pandemic or a natural disaster.

Electricity?  It’s a blessing.  Food?  Some are going hungry.  Water?  Some are experiencing dehydration.

Every bite we take…..every drop of water we drink….it’s a blessing.

The roof over our head….it’s a blessing.

The cars we drive and our access to gas..it’s a blessing.

The people in our home….they’re a blessing.

Being able to find things like milk, eggs, meat, bread, toilet paper and paper towels…..what a blessing.

Having the freedom to sit in church….Wow.  Amazing.

Getting a regular paycheck that allows you to pay your bills.  What did you do to ever deserve it?

Now, I know in the middle of crisis, people are quick to question God.  Over the years, my Pastor has been so helpful in this area.  His teachings have truly transformed my life.  He has helped me and so many others to see that God is not a car-wrecking, cancer-causing God.  He’s a loving creator.

We, however, are living in a cursed world with a bad devil….where sometimes bad things do happen to good people.  And if these bad things do happen?  We ALWAYS have the hope of heaven, as long as we choose to.  The devil can never ever take away our eternal hope, unless we let him.  His time to wreck havoc is short….very short.  So there you have it….good God, bad devil, cursed world.

No.  God did not create this virus.  No.  He did not bring the tornado through Nashville to teach us something.  No.  He did not just sit back and allow 9-11. But guess what?  He can be found in the midst of our pain.  As I said earlier, he is in the business of bringing good out of the bad.  He knows how to turn things around.

I DO believe he is wanting to work in this hour in a way unlike anything we’ve ever seen.

If God cannot get our attention in this pandemic….then when can He?

Maybe if we lived every day like finding a pack of meat was the highlight of our day, then he just may have our attention?

Maybe if we lived every day like we aren’t entitled to hosting our child’s birthday celebration….we may be making some serious progress in the thankfulness department?

Maybe if we lived every day like a wedding reception is a very special and unusual blessing….we just may be changing as people.

Maybe if we lived every day like hanging out in pajamas, holding your child longer and reading a few more books to him or her, is heaven on earth…..just maybe, we may be allowing God to reach and teach us?

Right now, we have a chance to organize….a chance to purge.  A chance to get our homes together.  But I’m not just talking about our homes.  I’m talking about our lives.  We have a chance to call old friends and to reach out.  A chance to love and treat our families better than we ever have. A chance to spend more time in prayer and in the word of God.

We don’t have after school activities, PTA or girl’s nights out.

Even old broadway is more silent than its ever been. We will just have to find something else to do.

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With all of that said, do I think we are in the last, last days?

Only God knows for sure.  I have many reasons and scriptures I can point to which make me believe we are…but remember, God’s timeline is not ours.  In Heaven where life is eternal, 20 years on earth is but a drop in the bucket, and very well could be considered the last last days.  So the last, last days COULD mean we have another 20-400 years here on earth.  I don’t know.  Only God knows.  I’m not claiming to know the day or the hour, but if you follow prophecy at all….we are getting strong warnings that we need to take heed and be ready.  It’s time for us to prioritize and examine what really matters. It’s time for us to eliminate what isn’t fruitful or necessary. Regardless of if Christ is coming now, or 20 years from now….we need to be ready.

Thankfully, when we have the hope of heaven, we do not have to fear the last days.  We can simply enjoy the here and now…..but we can live life knowing that the best is yet to come.

But still….our earthly lives can change in an instant.  Nashvillians know that for not one but TWO reasons lately.

That tornado ripping through could’ve changed any of our lives in an instant.  About as soon as we got our power back and our grocery stores operating as normal…..then came the quarantine.  We could’ve never predicted what March and April (and possibly longer) was going to look like.

In that same way that our lives can change in an instant, why don’t people remember that Christ can come back in an instant?  Why wouldn’t He?  Remember, He says he will come like a thief in the night.  We cannot always predict that next tornado or that next worldwide virus pandemic, but we CAN know for sure that He is coming back at some point….so why do we prepare less or not at all…. for what we know is FOR SURE?

The only certain thing is Jesus Christ….and thank goodness that’s a certainty!  We can live in peace no matter what our current circumstances may look like.  If the worst thing we fear will happen, happens, then we just go to heaven, right?  And let me tell you, fear does NOT exist in heaven.

Do I think we are going to pull through this and have some beautiful and prosperous days ahead here on earth?  I do.  I really do.  I don’t know for how long, but I do believe God has A LOT he still wants to do. As the noise and distractions are turned off, I believe God is moving mountains and transforming lives.  I believe he’s doing an amazing work in our nation and in our world.  I believe this is actually a beautiful time to be alive.  Can it be scary?  Of course.  Even though the Bible tells us over and over and over again not to fear, I’d be lying if I were to say that I never have here and there moments of fear.

I’d also be lying if I were to say I never have sad or discouraging days.  In fact, right before I wrote this blog, I was starting to have one of those.  Then, God reminded me that the best way to get over my sadness is to encourage others today.  He reminded me that he put this post on my heart weeks ago.  And as I write this, I’m feeling less and less discouraged.

As my pastor also recently said, “I don’t get down.  I’m either up…or I’m getting up!”

That is me today.  I’m having to get up.  But as I’m taking in what I’m typing….I’m almost completely back on my feet.

You can be too.

And here you are.  

YOU.  I believe God sees YOU as a potential warrior and victor.  He otherwise wouldn’t have chosen you to be alive at this hour.  These times are not for the weak and the faint at heart.  [However, without him, we can certainly feel both weak and faint at heart].  I believe there is a reason he has each and every one of us here for this hour.

He is the one who created heaven and earth and pre-plans everything…and HE decided a long time ago, that you and I, and our children should be here for a time such as this.  That must mean we ALL have great potential and value that can very positively contribute to this world.

I believe this is a time of a worldwide awakening.  I believe He is going to open eyes and transform hearts.  I believe he is going to restore and renew.  I also believe he is going to expose corruption and clean house in this nation.  I believe there had to be a time such as this for certain things to be brought to light (that is a different blog for a different day, so I will end that topic there).

Remember though, God finds a way to bring good out of the bad.  He works all things together for the good of those who love him.

So if you find yourself bored?  Get into the word.  There’s no better time than now.  Write a friend a handwritten letter.  Organize that messy drawer.  Scrapbook.  Start a blog.  FaceTime an old friend.  There’s no better time to catch up than now.

Surprisingly I haven’t had any shortage of things to do during the quarantine.  In fact, my house is still not where I want it to be.  We do work from home (right now, 5 days a week), so from 8-4:30 each day, my work life does go on as normal.  I guess maybe I have an excuse to STILL feel behind?  But as I focus on what is truly important, I don’t feel so bad about what’s left undone.

So in the meantime, I’m spending a lot of time with my daughter, husband and dog.  [Let’s just say, this quarantine is Rosco’s dream come true.  He never has liked being alone, even if for only a few hours..so this is paradise for him]  I hate the virus situation, but I do cherish the stillness of this time.  I do have peace in this storm.

I plan to print pictures online, and to work on organizing Clara’s photo albums.  I also plan to continue crocheting, writing, organizing the house and working on those projects I’ve been putting off.

I am also going to attend church via livestream (we call it lifestream), every Wednesday and every weekend. This is also my year to read the whole Bible, so you can bet I’m sticking with that plan too….even if I do sometimes get behind for a few days.  I will always find a way to catch back up!  Because guess what? My hope is in Christ, so he deserves all of my attention that he can get.  I’m just glad that I can give him more attention than ever right now.

So yes.  This hour is really really showing us our hope is not in materials, entertainment, the stock market, the economy, possessions, money, jobs, or even other people.

All of the above have always been areas of false hope, but our human nature at times can tempt us into making these things our hope.

But now that the false hopes are ripped away, what is left?  The REAL HOPE!  Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is what is left…and thank God for that! He is the same today, yesterday and forever.

We may not know what tomorrow will bring….or even if we have a tomorrow.  But we can know that no matter what comes, we can be safe in his presence.  And with that assurance?  We have nothing to fear.

But as long as we live here on earth……let us never forget this hour…

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