It has been said that time heals all things. As a 70-year-old father and grandfather, I disagree. Time alone cannot heal; not the grief of losing a loved one, the heartache of a broken relationship, or the regret of a horribly wrong decision. Only God, through Jesus Christ, has the power to do that. But time can provide perspective. And perspective allows us to see things much more clearly.
When the coronavirus is in the rear-view mirror, and it will be, our perspective may very well have changed. How it changes will be different for each of us. Social distancing and stay-at-home directives are giving us an unexpected opportunity, albeit, not necessarily a welcomed one. It’s an opportunity to rethink and reevaluate our sometimes very skewed perspective.
Some have family members who are in a fight for their life with COVID-19, an indiscriminate and aggressive virus. For them, their perspective of God’s promise of healing by His stripes, (Isaiah 53:5), could become more than mere words on the page. It may be their only hope and only answer.
Many have seen their retirement or college education funds plummet as fear and panic in the market causes stocks to drop twenty or even thirty percent. Others are facing partial or total loss of their income. Knowing full well that the government may help but can never make everyone completely whole. God’s promise to meet all our needs according to His riches in glory, (Philippians 4:19), may very well become one of the most studied scriptures in the Bible as people struggle to pay their bills.
If fear is not allowed to reign in the mind, a new and richer perspective of life could emerge. Things that seemed so terribly important yesterday may become far less important tomorrow as they are placed back into their proper perspective.
Family life, the foundation for everything good in our nation, can so easily be eroded in our all-consuming activity driven culture. But in this temporary lockdown, family just may emerge as the victor. What could happen if the hearts of the Fathers turned again to their children? If husbands and wives rekindle their love and relationships with children were made whole again.
This unforeseen opportunity to change perspective is ours for the taking. Let us look up to our Heavenly Father for help and guidance. Let us cling to our husband or wife for strength and courage. For though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him and a threefold cord is not quickly broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12) Especially when the third cord is our Heavenly Father.
Even though what we are all facing is not pleasant, it too will pass. Let us not waste this time. It just might be a wonderful opportunity to gain a more God centered perspective; not of things but of what really matters; family and people.
If we are wise, we’ll learn from this crisis and embrace that new perspective.
God Bless
Jim Ertel/Grandpa Jimmy