The first casualties of upheaval can be love, kindness, and patience. But crisis is also a moment when love for God & one another can spring up. For 150 days, starting on 17th March 2020, I will write 300 words based on one of the 150 psalms in the bible. How can I find and give love in the midst of coronavirus?
4 From his throne in heaven the Lord laughs and mocks their feeble plans.
5 Then he warns them in anger and terrifies them with his fury. 6 “On Zion,my sacred hill,” he says, “I have installed my king.” 7 “I will announce,” says the king, “what the Lord has declared. He said to me: ‘You are my son; today I have become your father. 8 Ask, and I will give you all the nations; the whole earth will be yours. (Psalm 2:4-8)
Secondary schools can be challenging places. One of the teachers in CBC is deputy head in a busy school – and when I went to visit him, he took me for a tour. All sorts was going on, anxious staff members were coming up to him with problems, with anxieties – and he simply chuckled. He didn’t ignore the problems, but he laughed to communicate “It will be OK” or “I’m not sure that is my responsibility”. He then calmly went about his business and sought to solve some of the problems.
The thing he didn’t do, was to join in with the anxiety of those around him – and I loved watching it because it’s what God is like. Psalm 2 describes God sitting and looking at the earth, and wondering what on earth we are planning – especially those in leadership. He laughs – yes laughs. Not because He’s not interested – but because our anxiety doesn’t make Him anxious, and because our schemes don’t surprise or worry Him.
Coronavirus is not a plan of humans – it’s a consequence of our fallen world. However, God is not anxious – He knows everything, He understands – and He laughs. This is who I want to hang out with in a crisis. The Psalm goes on to show what God has done about all that is wrong with the world – He has installed His King on Zion (the hill in Jerusalem) – it’s His Son – Jesus. He is on the throne, He is with us, He is smiling, He is not anxious. Let’s hold onto Him, let’s ask Him for His guidance every day.