Latest News

Have you ever been blinded?  Blinded to  addictions or bad habits you have garnered along the way.  Blinded to the destructive or perhaps dishonest practices encouraged at your job.  Blinded to what is going on in your children’s lives.  Blinded to the needs of your spouse, friend, neighbor or those around you.

John 9 speaks about why we have pain in suffering in life by relaying the story of Jesus and the man born blind.  When Jesus was asked “Who sinned, the man or his parents for him to be born blind, Jesus answered:

 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. ⁴ As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. ⁵ While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

While we are often recipients of our actions, we often shake our fists at God when bad things occur in our lives.  COVID-19 for example.  This virus has not only shaken us up in our town, state, nation but the entire world!  What is the meaning of this?

If we spend too much time watching the updates we find ourselves wringing our hands, clinging to fear, filled with self-preservation, skepticism and fear.  In doing so we become blind to seeing God’s hand through the COVID-19 Pandemic and begin to ponder –  Did God cause COVID-19? 

While some may think this is punishment by God for our lifestyle, I feel it is all part of living on earth.  I choose to believe the bible when it says that “this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him”.   I choose to believe that Jesus sees, knows and acts on our behalf to open our eyes, that God is more powerful than any virus, that we are dearly loved, forgiven and bound for eternity and even if we pass away from COVID-19, God promises us eternity.

I choose to believe that we must cling to The Word, our faith and the cross now more than ever.

I choose to let go of skepticism, selfishness, fear and the next ping of the breaking news notification.

I choose to “Fix my eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:2)

I choose to connect with others virtually, by phone and 6 ft. from my neighbors and ask “How are you doing and how I can help you have a better day?

Here are some of the ways people are choosing to face the COVID-19 virus:

• Trucker drive days on end getting supplies to the stores.
• Store workers are stocking the shelves all night, store managers are letting the elderly people shop first in the mornings.
• Carnival Cruise Line is matching those big Navy Hospital ships with some fully staffed cruise ships.
• GM is making ventilators instead of cars
• Restaurant have kitchen and staff to feed kids whose parents need some help.
• NBA basketball players are writing checks to pay the arena staff.
• The wealthy are donating funds for research and support of beating this virus.
• Teachers are virtually teaching our children and continue to enrich their lives.
• Celebrities are reading books to your children, singing songs on Twitter live feeds for those of us stuck inside.
• Crafters are sitting at their sewing machines for hours a day, sewing masks and caps for the nurses and home health care workers.
• Moms are blogging with activities and ideas for your children.
• Young Americans are volunteering to run errands and get food for the vulnerable.
• Nurses and doctors are putting themselves at risk to help the infected.
• Police, Firefighters, First Responders, and Military are standing strong and continuing to protect, serve, and work while everyone else is safe in their homes.

While we may look like a nation divided at times, confronted with the invisible enemy of COVID-19 virus we are a nation that is standing and fighting together.

J.R.R Tolkien, “The Fellowship of the Ring” writes:  “I wish it need not have happened in my time.’ said Frodo.  ‘So do I,’ said Gandalf, “And so do all who live to see such times.  But that is not for them to decide.  All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.’”

So now I ask you.  What are you going to do with your time?  Will you continue to be blinded by skepticism, selfishness and fear?  Or will you keep your seeing eyes on Jesus and find ways to connect with others and believe?  The choice is yours.

I choose to believe.  Will you join me?

 

Want to read more about surviving adversity?  Check out my book Surviving Medical Mayhem – Laughing When It Hurts.  Order your copy today at www.LorettaSchoen.com or on www.Amazon.com