The world is changing fast. Where will we be in six months, a year, ten years from now? With the world at a standstill due to the pandemic, I find myself at peace with the life I have lived thus far. As I stand at this pivotal moment in time, it is wonderful to be able to say with assurance that all is well with my soul. From time to time I do reflect on my friends, family, and loved ones, but there is a calm that comes over me that they too are going to be ok. Human beings can rise up amid despair, and while weeping may last for a night, I am reminded that “Is it not sweet to believe that our tears are understood even when words fail! Let us learn to think of tears as liquid prayers (Spurgeon).

I think we all understand our situation and are concerned about what might lie in our future. But it is imperative that we take control of our future. We see young and old trying to make sense of how the world suddenly came to an alt. We know that normalcy will never be normal, and that our tears shed for those lost will remain with us as our eyes grow dim with years, as they grow red and feeble through weeping. In a time of so much uncertainty, I encourage everyone to stand strong, courageous, and accept that change has a way of bringing new ideas. For instance, how we go to work, shop, deem our 9 to 5 jobs as essential, or how companies must completely alter their business practices, through pushing everyone to innovation as they navigate daily operations.

Accordingly, I recommend that it has never been more important to control what you can, for yourself and those around you, and to see more opportunities for living differently that allows us to do more with less stuff, thus decreasing unnecessary suffering. Further, I implore people to start by revisiting those visions they had, have, or want to have; create a picture of what your dream future looks like, then make a plan on how you will execute it; begin by conquering your fears as this is the most difficult obstacles anyone will ever need to overcome (the internal fear); then begin by taking a leap of faith. I know challenges motivate us. We are people who serve a great God who knows everything we go through. As we take control of our future, never give up or give in. Many of us have weathered GREATER storms and in each storm, we have been victorious, and it was that victory which transformed us into who we are today. Blessings.