The question I have for you is this, how are you doing?  

To say we are living in interesting times would be an understatement.  The current circumstances in which we find ourselves are unlike any of us, except the most elderly among us, have ever experienced.

Societal foundations are being rocked to the core.  I will spare listing them.

New words or phrases have made their way into our daily speech uninvited and by force. COVID 19, Social Distancing, and Pandemic are a few by name. 

I think it is time to remove them from the altered dictionary from which they came.

You may be coping with the situation as best you can.  You may be collapsing under the strain.  Whatever the case, it’s OK.  I understand.

A couple of weeks ago, I overhead a call where one of my wife’s colleagues seemed to be buckling under the weight of simultaneous parental duties associated with the navigating the new day to day aspects of life, teaching her children at home, and administering a distance education classroom in her teaching duties.  Her voice cracked with tears and she was doing her best to keep her head above water.  I felt her pain and frustration.

We now get a daily update on those who have contracted the virus and those who have succumbed to it, both on a worldwide and national (US) levels.  We lament those who have passed and offer prayers for those they left behind.

Although there is plenty of news which has tested our singular and collective resolve, there too exists on the other side of the scale stories of hope and healing.

We are uniting as Americans as we take aim at “the invisible enemy” and it has been aptly described as “we are in a war”.

Frontline healthcare workers, personally in harm’s way, have sacrificed time and energy to step up to the plate within the realm of their professional, ethical, and personal calling.

Businesses are coming together to pull resources and strategies to meet the overwhelming demands of the day.  Competitors are now partnering together.

Every day people are helping their friends, family, neighbors, and yes, strangers – would be new friends.

Most importantly, we are rising amidst the rubble of it all to a new and long overdue dependence on God.  Most of us have not experienced such a plural dependence on God since the events of 911.

Prayer is now center stage and people are calling on God in their time of need. Good choice.

Houses of faith are making online options available in their attempt at reaching any and all who want to listen to the hope they offer.  

Despite the foundations being shaken, we have this promise,

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” (Isaiah 54:10 NIV)

Recently, I had some time on my hands thanks to the stay at home orders.  I decided to watch a movie, Midway (2019), I wanted to see when it was released in theaters.  It is the story of the American response to the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. 

One scene jumped off the screen and onto my lap. The scene was of the Japanese naval general, Isoroku Yamamoto, retrospectively thinking of the attack on America at Pearl Harbor. 

He reluctantly stated these words:

“I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with terrible resolve.”

Could it be, against the backdrop of the present uncertainty, God is awakening you and me as a sleeping giant called the church and is filling us with the same (or greater) spiritual resolve in the midst of this crisis? 

This is a personal and collective defining moment where we can declare by faith and with certainty in our hearts this will be our finest hour.

We might wish for things to “return to normal”.

Could it be that a new normal is unfolding and does not exist in our past?

Is God saying to those of who call on His name the following?

“This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you.”  Ephesians 5:14 (NIV)

At times, I can honestly say I have been asleep at the wheel and allowed day to day concerns and cares of this life to crowd out that which is truly important.

The effect of the pandemic has worn our tires thin.  Fear has attempted to breach the walls of our castle and at times has succeeded. It has caused us to shrink back instead of moving forward.  If we allow fear to dictate our personal response it can be paralyzing.  Fear can keep us stuck and entertaining the what if’s of life will lead to our demise.

In the 1995 romance / adventure film, First Knight, a tale about King Arthur and his vision for Camelot, the ending battle scene hints at a solution to counter the effects of fear. 

Camelot is about to overtaken by Maleagant, a sinister figure whose aim is to overthrow the kingdom by ruling with an iron fist. King Arthur is faced with a decision and surrendering to the enemy in fear seems to be the only solution.

He regretfully stands before Maleagant and his warriors and says this:

“What I do now I do for my people and for Camelot.  May they forgive me. This is my last act as your king.   Do not be afraid.  All things change (as he begins to lay down his sword and is about to kneel in apparent surrender).

I am Arthur of Camelot and I command you now….to fight.  Never surrender never surrender. Fight. Camelot lives.”

It is a picture of the kingdom of God. 

As we recently celebrated the Resurrection think of this.  Our King, Jesus, willingly laid down His life.  What the enemy thought was his victory lap turned out to be his ultimate demise as Christ emerged from the now empty tomb, victorious. 

This is a historical fact.  However, if left only to history it is void of personal importance and where it can be applied in any and all facets of our life. It is in our personal experience of the resurrection where we experience His power in our lives.

“I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead…” Philippians 3:10 NLT

Fear, if left unchecked, can be detrimental.  Much like King Arthur as noted above and certainly Christ, it is time to take a few swings of our own against the enemy of our souls and fight for our hearts which are most assuredly under assault, crisis or not.

“But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me.  I, the Lord, have spoken.” (Isaiah 54:17 NLT)

Aren’t you glad you have someone fighting on your behalf?  One who not only gives peace, but is the Prince of Peace.