3:140 – What Is Normal?

#faithbites #faithjourney normal

I hear people saying they want to get back to normal. That this isn’t a good life. If we get back to normal everything will be better. I think that’s an oversimplification of things. We need to ask ourselves, what part of our old normal was good? Is there anything in this new life that we would want to keep?

The old life had problems just as the new one does. We were used to our problems and accepted that as our status quo. Imagine, if we didn’t go back to the old, or stay in the new. What would life look life if we all crafted a new normal focused on faith, family, and friends instead of self, money, and accomplishment.

Scripture

Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect

Reflection

Our perception and imagination is shaped by what we have experienced in the past. Sometimes it stops us from thinking out side the box. I saw a meme that said if our economic system is so fragile that we need to prioritize people dying from an economic collapse over those dying from a preventable disease, we should rethink our systems.

There are no easy answers to this. For some, this quarantine is an inconvenience while for others it’s devastating in both terms of life and livlehood. While we are experiencing this differently, we can all think about what is next. We can follow Jesus’s teaching and focus more on love, community, and life. How to help others up instead of looking how we get ahead.

I have no answers on how to fix this or what the new normal should be. I out my faith in Christ, who will answer all things.

Challenge

What one change will you make in your life after this Coronavirus life is over? What plans do you ja d to help you keep that change?

Prayer

Father God, help us not jump to quickly into what us comfortable and known. Help us determine how we can use The Great Pause to change life when we return. Let us focus on those things you tell us are important rather than material wealth and gain. This isn’t easy at all, but through you, we can make life better. In your name, Amen.