It’s a Different World

As most of us go through life we get into a routine, a pattern, which allows us to more easily navigate life.  We may do lots of different things, but we generally follow a routine.  For most of us, that routine ended in March this year.  

I live in British Columbia, Canada, and as for most people in the world things have been very different for a couple of months.  Thanks to our new COVID-19 reality we can get together with friends, outdoors, 2 metres or more apart, but not any closer and not inside.  After two months of closure, restaurants have been allowed to reopen, but with “social distancing” regulations.  Who had ever heard of “social distancing” three months ago?  No events with crowds, no church meetings, no large gatherings.  We now get together and hold meetings with ZOOM or Skype.  Our world has changed dramatically.  Even introverts are realizing they need a bit of human interaction.  Crises arrive unexpectedly, with no warning, and we have to adapt.  Life changes.  Sometimes it returns to normal but sometimes it is changed forever and there is a new “normal.”  It is difficult because our routine is gone and we have to develop a new routine.  That can be hard, even painful for some, but change is a part of life.  But with every crisis there is also opportunity.  This crisis gives us an opportunity to take a look at life and think about what truly is important to us.  Family?  Friends?  Work?  Sports or hobbies?  What about God?  Is He important?  For me, Christ is the centre of my life and everything else revolves around that centre.  With that stability my life is fine, still okay, although with many changes.

I am thankful that the one firm foundation for my life is not my routine, but my God.  Jesus is my anchor.  Amid all of this change I trust Him and ask that He will enable me to help others who are suffering through these troubled times.

Train Up a Child

This morning I was reading a Bible passage from the book of Proverbs.  It is well known to Christians and says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” 

I think everyone wants their children to have a good life, live well and stay out of trouble.  This verse gives a very simple formula, but do we really follow the advice.  The reason for my question is that in any life on life training, it is our example which will be followed, not our words.  Our children will copy what we do.  They may listen to what we say but they will believe and imitate what we do.  As a Christian, if I live in such as way that I show Jesus to be the most important person in my life, and show I will obey Him always, then my children will see that and see I really mean what I teach them about Jesus.  If I obey the laws of the land, as scripture tells me to do, then my children will see that it is important to me.  This little verse from Proverbs is really about my life and example.  What do I want to pass on to my children.  Am I honest, loving, obedient to my Lord Jesus?

The words from the book of Proverbs were written a very long time ago but are just as meaningful today as they were thousands of years ago.  It is my example which will train my children, and now my grandchildren.  I must truly live for Jesus in obedience to Him if I want to teach my children to do the same.

Careless Words

I was reading some things that friends had shared on the internet when it struck me that much of it was pretty negative.  There were funny things, some good advice, but a lot of very negative words and articles making fun of people or their ideas or beliefs.  In some cases it ridiculed the way that people in other cultures went about their daily life.  This morning that started me thinking about what we say and do and share with others.

What do I want to do?  Do I want to build up others or tear them down?  Do I want to make fun of people or lift them up?  Words, pictures, videos, all are powerful communicators of what we feel inside.  The question I asked myself is, "How do I want to influence others?"  I don't think I want to share things that tear down others.  I think I would rather build them up and help them.  If I have a different view of things then perhaps I should lovingly present my viewpoint, not angrily and mockingly dismiss theirs and in the process insult or belittle them. 

For me, a Christian, the question becomes one of asking how God would like me to treat others and respond to ideas which are different from mine.  In the Bible, in the fifth chapter of the book of Matthew, Jesus said, "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,"  We are supposed to love even our enemies, even those whose ideas differ from ours. How much love am I showing to people if I mock them and their ideas?  I am going to resolve to be careful what I share with others on the internet, or face to face.  I think that is what Jesus wants me to do.