In every life, there is some kind of storm. It may be shaped by uncertainty and fear. It can be driven by disease and personal tragedy. For many others, it is the uncertainty of the day at hand. We have no idea what is going to happen. We are uncertain about the future. We fear what we cannot control. Even when we have things in control, surprises hit us from every direction. The idea that things in life could be quiet or settled sits just beyond our imaginations.
I find myself caught in this view of life. The fact that we are living in a chaotic time of our history is evident from any perspective. The only question is the level of how life infects our ability to life. Mustering the courage to hold onto hope’s hand is not an easy thing to do. Living in a way that tells others that you are confident is an act of deception. Holding onto the ideals of compassion, mercy, and inclusiveness confronts our natural inclination to hide wherever we can find a safe niche. Life is stormy, uncertain, and chaotic.
In this situation, my response is paralyzed. I do not know what to do. Doing nothing seems to be the safest answer. Understanding how to proceed is filled with unknowns, uncertainty, and confusion.
I would gently like to remind you as well as myself that this situation is not new. Generations have fought through extended periods of hardship, uncertainty, and pain. In the midst of this, a minority embraced the best of our ideals. They lived with compassion and community at the center. They embraced mercy. They lived out their values and priorities. Because of this, “the ministry of God's Word grew by leaps and bounds.” (Acts 12.24)
The fact that there are storms in your life and mind should not blind us to the question at hand. What are we going to do in the reality we find ourselves in? I want to make a difference, to myself and to those around me. Today is an opportunity.
