It has been 19 months since my dad told me that there was a big bad virus, and that I should stock up on food and toilet paper (he used to go China a lot). It has been 14 months since Michigan closed, and all activity was stopped abruptly. It has been 9 months since I went back into the office only for it to close up again 3 months later. It was 4 days ago when we were supposed to have open back up, but now that got extended to another 6 months.
Now, I am not here to complain about our leaders or what they should or should not do. I am just frustrated at how much my life has changed from the time I heard about Covid-19 (and I thought my dad was paranoid) to getting my first shot a couple weeks ago. I just want it all to be over.
I keep hearing people saying: “We are in the last quarter” or “We are at the Home Plate stretch”.
However, I look at the roller coaster Covid graph, the news talking about 5 more deadlier Covid variants, the vaccines that are being retracted, the dates that keep getting push back and I just don’t know if we are truly in the last quarter. It just makes me want to cry.
It is during this time that I have to Stop.
Stop and change my way of thinking, otherwise my mind goes dark and my heart hurts. It is during those times that I have to lean the most on the Word of God. In this case I read, pray and mediate over Romans 8.
“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace” Romans 8:6
‘For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:14-15
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” Romans 8:26
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31
Maybe we are at the home stretch, maybe we haven’t even passed to first base; regardless, we have already won!
Our God is on our team and He is unlike any other quarterback we have ever known. The victory is already ours!
“No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” Romans 8:37
Running towards home plate, playing the last quarter, or whatever sports idiom you like but with love,
Milo
