Forged by Fire
Many of us are experiencing a very difficult time this year. It’s hard. Things are different. We don’t know if things will ever be the same. There is uncertainty everywhere. I’m reminded of the Bible story of the three Hebrew boys. They were thrown in the furnace, and yet they continued to praise God. I wonder, do we still praise God in the midst of difficulty? Do we praise God when we don’t know the outcome? But, we do. We win. We survive. We thrive. We come out unscathed. We prosper. We are forged by fire to come out as pure gold.
Controversy
There will always be controversy. There will always be disagreement. There will always be a sizzler page. There will always be headlines. The characters will change. The scandal will still be the same. The benefit of life is that some of the issues will be predictable. You will see them coming from a mile away. We know this pandemic is going to be a headline. We know that people are stupid and entitled. We know this election is going to epic. We know that America is a hot mess. We know our leadership is special. Control what you can control and don’t stress the rest. Everything and everyone has a season. The good thing is that seasons change.
Contract
Four years ago I said yes to the unknown. I agreed to be with my husband through better and worse, through riches and poverty and sickness and health. We have no idea what these extremes look like when we are mouthing the words at the altar of our choosing. We have no idea how the stressors of life will affect our lives and our marriage. We don’t know what caregiving and unstable job markets will do to our union. We don’t know how kids will utterly disrupt our norm. We don’t know what life looks like after “I do.” Each year, we say “yes” again to the unknown. Each year we sign our names at the bottom of a contract not knowing what the following year may bring. That’s marriage….it’s jumping in the deep end holding hands. It’s saying, "I might not like you, but I love you, and we are going to get through this together.” Marriage is saying it might be our last, but we will spend it together. Marriage is signing a contract you never intend to break.
Crisis
noun
a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger.
By definition, we are in crisis. Our families, our careers, our health, our existence are all in crisis. I’m sure that we will all have some level of ptsd when this is all over. Things that used to seem normal will take some getting used to again. We will definitely have an adjustment period. Unfortunately, this is not something that can be resolved individually. It’s going to take a collective effort to ensure our recovery from this pandemic. We will have to rethink our health and education systems. We will have to rethink most in person interactions. What is deemed necessary? Despite the headlines, despite the panic, despite the fear, trouble don’t last always. This crisis is only for a season. This too shall pass. Eventually, the pressure will subside. The cases will lower. The risk will be less. We will survive. And hopefully, we will learn the lessons from this crisis and avert the next. Fingers crossed and prayers up. We are in this together.
Preach
Mark 16:15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
Every person is not called to be a preacher, but we are called to spread the good news. Churches have had to be creative in how they conduct services during this pandemic. They have found new ways to engage their parishioners through social media and technology. If I can be completely honest, I like it. I like the apps. I like the shares. I like the instastories. I like the lives. I like the YouTube links. I feel more connected now than before. Yes. I miss the faces. I miss the hugs. I miss the assembly, but I’ve still been edified. I still hear the word. I still have practical applications. I’m still active in our ministry. So, just remember that you still can spread the good news. You can share a post. You can share a scripture. You can tweet a testimony. You can still preach.
Teach
Students are returning to school, virtually. Teachers are trying to maintain some sense of normalcy. Parents are adjusting to homeschooling. We all have the same goals in mind. We want the best for our kids. Teachers want the best for their students. We just have to take a more active approach. We have to engage our kids. We have to reinforce what the teachers teach. We have to check schoolwork and homework. We have to assist with projects. We have to make sure they are dressed and ready for virtual school day with no classmates and recess. We have to encourage and remind them that this isn’t forever. We have to teach them how to live despite circumstances. We have to teach them how to thrive in uncertainty. We have to teach them it’s okay to be frustrated and angry, but to utilize healthy outlets. We have to teach them the same lessons we are learning ourselves.
Reach
I had a conversation with a good friend of mine and came to the conclusion that we are “reachers.” We are initiators. We are helpers. We are the people who will call and send text messages. We are the people who will inquire about your well-being regardless of ours. During times like these, we need reachers and we need to be reachers. Today, take the time to do a wellness check. Check-in on your family. Check-in on your friends. Make sure that they are okay. We are all going through some things. We are all being challenged in ways we never knew. Reach out!