Towards Excellence

“The crisis surpasses everything that human efforts could do.  And it’s just not the virus itself that causes illness and even sad losses everywhere…”

It’s true that from January 2020, all media and social media have been burdening us with thousands of headlines causing -some of them more than others- fear, anguish, hopelessness; in other words, chaos and instability.

For example, in January, “Fires in Australia are threatening the future of 327 protected species of plants and animals, says the Government.”  Also, in January, “Earthquake in Puerto Rico: How the earthquakes changed the view of the shape of the island from space.”  Later in February, “At least nine people died in Turkey because of the earthquake.  The epicenter was in Iran.”  And, of course, we haven’t been unaware of the widely debated “global warming” topic.

And yes, the earth has indeed faced fires, earthquakes, floods in different zones of the planet, and there’s no doubt that many populations have been affected in different and very critical ways.  But, in any case, each of these problems were specific or have attacked specific places.  And even though their neighbors from all over the world sympathized with them, nobody suffered from these tragedies but the people directly involved or affected.  Thus, it was a sort of sectorial pain, just to give a name to it.

However, lately some other headlines have joined the ones above mentioned: “UK ‘under house arrest’ as coronavirus measures ‘end freedom’”; “Coronavirus in Ecuador: questions and answers about corpse treatment during the health emergency;” or “The pandemic could reduce the world economy by almost 1% in 2020, says the UN.”

Hence, the outlook takes a radical turn, of course.  Headlines of this kind, about a particular topic, start to emerge in different countries around the globe, one after another, minute after minute.  Just like a clock that won’t stop ticking news after news, announcing an “invisible enemy” –COVID-19.

Enemy who, as of press time, has attacked over a million victims and killed 64,743 people worldwide.  An actual tragedy!

But, what kind of enemy is this, coming to disrupt the life of all the inhabitants of the planet like no other has before?  Panic isn’t sectorial anymore, panic is global!  The disaster isn’t sectorial, it’s global!

How can we leave this confinement?  How can we defeat the enemy?  Who can we trust?  These are some questions of all humankind in the midst of this world crisis.  But, despite the good spirits of some people, the high motivation of others, and mostly the amazing good will and self-sacrificing service of some more, and the strategic action of the governments that must be mentioned, of course; nothing is enough to bring well-being, good health or real peace feeling back.

The crisis surpasses everything that human efforts could do.  And it’s just not the virus itself that causes illness and even sad losses everywhere. It’s also the emotional tragedy that has reached families, communities and the entire global environment.

But it is right there, when we as human beings, we have nowhere to turn to and nowhere to go for shelter, when we realize our vulnerability, weakness and powerlessness to face the unknown. That’s when we dive into the deepest of our heart and acknowledge that there’s someone we can and we should turn to.

That someone is God.  And the word “god” might be too “shabby,” too “underused”, or too “decontextualized.”  Does the world have a true understanding and knowledge of who God is?  Does the world really understand the essence and greatness of God, the Creator of heavens and earth, the universe and everything that exists?

If indeed humanity understood the magnificence of this God, they would join yesteryear’s Psalmist, David, and cry out from the depths of their heart in these times of crisis:

“ I look up to the mountains—
    does my help come from there?
  My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth!”

“The Lord keeps you from all harm
    and watches over your life.”

 (Psalm 121:1-2,7  NLT)

When we come to understand that we ran out of “human” resources, in the midst of this pandemic, there’s no wiser action than turning to the Creator of all humankind.  There’s no wiser action than turning to the One who gives life, the One who saves and heals, the One from whom flows true peace.

There’s no other way than turning to the true and almighty God, to Jesus Christ, the Life itself, the Savior of the world, the Prince of peace!

While the news proclaim panic, desolation, hopelessness; only those who put their trust in the Eternal God, the Creator of heaven and earth, will have the strength to proclaim serenity, consolation and hope; always understanding that their protection comes from above, from their Creator.

“You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.
Trust in the Lord forever,
for the Lord, the Lord Himself, is the Rock eternal.”

(Isaiah 26:3-4  NIV)

Source: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

Photos:  Cecy Yepez (1) & Envato Elements (2, 3, 4) – Design:  YNS