Overcoming Giants

Standing In His Love

Standing In His Love

Over the past year we have all experienced the rise in the emotional temperature of our nation and our world. The Gallup organization reports that sadness, anger, fear and stress have soared to record levels around the globe. Unquestionably, the COVID-19 crisis has been a great contributor to the rising tide of those emotions, but it has not stood alone in that distinction. In our nation, political and social upheavals have added to the mix in unprecedented ways, and the economic disruption that has resulted from all of the above has added significant fuel to the fire. If we were to lay a snapshot of January 2021 and January 2020 side-by-side there would be no mistaking the enormous changes we have all experienced in these last twelve months.

Today in the U.S. we inaugurated a new president and vice president. The atmosphere surrounding those events looked very different from anything we have ever before seen. Our “peaceful” transition of leadership, though characterized by a message of unity, was scarred by razor-wire and an unprecedented security force of police officers and soldiers. Regardless of our political persuasion, we pray for our new leaders as they step into their respective roles in these unparalleled days. We pray that the days ahead will be characterized by peace, sound wisdom and an earnest effort to do what is best for our nation. We pray that all of us – people and leaders alike – will truly endeavor to move forward guided by truth, genuine compassion, and regard for one another. We pray that the year 2021 would not be characterized by sadness, anger, fear and stress, like its predecessor, but rather joy, charity, forbearance and respect.

But here’s the thing – only light can defeat darkness, only truth can defeat lies, and only true love never fails….

Facing The Giants

Facing The Giants

If you ever questioned the idea that we live in a global village, i hope current events have caused you to acknowledge that reality. Today the impact of coronavirus is being felt in almost every corner of the globe. As of 3/15/20 2:20PM, 145 countries have reported cases of the disease, as per data collected by Johns Hopkins University. That’s 145 of the 189-196 countries that currently make up our world (depending upon which source you acknowledge for the total number of countries). Currently all of our many differences are being overshadowed by the presence of a common enemy.

When we rang in the new year less than ninety days ago, none of us (other than perhaps a handful of medical researchers) had ever heard of the disease. None of us expected that this would be a giant we would all be facing within the first few months of the year. And most of us, until the last week or so, had never heard the terms, let alone been taught that “social distancing” and “flattening the curve” were a good thing as a part of a strategy to fight a giant.

But here’s the thing. The giant will pass….