How to thrive during a pandemic: take the next step forward
It’s true what they say, you remember where you were when a national or world catastrophe occurs is so true. I was at work, actually in a meeting when my wife who never calls me at work called: “get to a TV, something is happening in NYC”. Twenty four hours after the World Trade Center Towers fell, I was standing on the corner of Broadway and 72nd Street.
We immediately came together to bring hope to a growing spiritual and humanitarian tragedy. I was asked to help coordinate the capabilities of multiple faith organizations that together mobilized close to a hundred chaplains, emergency food preparation and delivery across lower Manhattan and several burrows. It was also the beginning of what would become the mobilization of tens of thousands of volunteers to help serve people most impacted at ground zero.
The difference between then and now can seem stark but not so much so. Truly, COVID-19 has already impacted more people than 9/11 attack but they carry the same fear, anxiety, confusion and hopelessness. To combat these four horsemen we first and foremost begin to find answers in our faith. Why? Simply put, faith is all about the assurance of things“hoped for” a “conviction” that though we do not have clear answers we will come out on the other side. There will be a new dawn.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1
It’s not that we who have found a relationship with Jesus have all the answers; it’s that we know and walk alongside a loving Savior who knows and cares for us despite all our frailties. It is upon the basis of knowing we are loved and cared for that we are able to move forward in a crises. Sometimes just taking the next step is all we can muster, but that is ok.
Sometimes just taking the next step is all we can muster, but that is ok.
As it turned out, I ended up living in NYC for close to a year off and on. In all that time as now, I found people desperately searching for hope: to hold on to something that would not let go. Now is the time for the Body of Christ to mobilize and deploy. Maybe not so much toward a focused geographic location but by phone or Zoom reaching out to friends and family. What an opportunity to reach out to clients and customers to let them know you genuinely care. We are in this together and I think perhaps this is one of the lesson for all of us.
We must bring hope, love and yes even laughter to our communities. Friends, you are not alone. Take a step toward Jesus take a step toward love worth finding.
