365:D209:CD16

For most of people living in the United States, this pandemic is probably the worst event we have ever seen. In my lifetime, I remember how 9-11 changed the world. It seemed that during 9-11: we all drew together as a country, as a people, we loved people more, grew tighter as a community and supported one another. This pandemic, is not allowing us to draw together physically, it is forcing us to have social distances, it is forcing us to be apart from the people we love, physically. In today’s reading from 1 Peter 1 : 3-12, it says that “There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while, these trials will show that your faith is genuine. Being tested like fire tests and purifies gold, though your faith is more precious than mere gold.” What this says to me is that

1. God is promising wonderful joy ahead, but right now we are being tested.

2. Endurance, is needed to get through this trial, endurance, the word, is like a mantra to me, it is required to make it through any hard times, trials and still maintain a happy heart. Webster says endurance is “the ability to withstand hardship or adversity especially : the ability to sustain a prolonged stressful effort or activity.” Wikipedia also adds, “as well as its ability to resist, withstand, recover from, and have immunity to trauma, wounds or fatigue.” The definitions point to physical endurance but there is also emotional and mental endurance that we need to strengthen at this time. Here are a few ways to strengthen your emotional and mental endurance:

• Dive into the word, look for what God has promised.
• Meditate on the promises, if that is to much, meditate on endurance, make it your mantra.
• Take a day off from the news, by now we all know the rules with social distances, find something upbeat and happy on Netflix
• Make yourself a schedule, a daily to do list, goals
• Go for a run or walk outside, do yoga, do yoga, do yoga here

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3. Purification, to be free of uncleanliness, since this whole thing started, how often do you wash your hands now? Has it increased due to covid19? What other habits have you added, keeping your house cleaner, disinfecting more? We are definitely going through a physical purification process at this time but in the word, again I believe it means our mind and emotions. To clean up our thoughts: to come to a place of forgiveness for those who have wronged us, to let go of the past and start over, a new beginning perhaps, to seek gratitude.

At this moment, I hear the birds waking up and they are once again singing. My heart is filled with gratitude because of them. I know as long as they are outside and they sing, everything will be alright.

Much Love 💜 Much Life