This is Our Moment

I don't have a lot of time to write this week, and I am sorry about that.

It’s been an overly busy week and I am currently sitting in the airport in Houston waiting for my next flight. It’s late at night and the airport is nearly empty.

I received an e-mail from the Houston Airport several days ago that warned me to be prepared for long lines because it is spring break and they were expecting a rush of travelers.

There is barely a soul in sight … Starbucks has no line … the area in which I am sitting has only two other brave travelers … and all of the workers are standing around talking.

There is a quiet hush where there is normally conversations … crowds … businessmen … and families.

Today I’d like to to share a quote that I read recently by the brilliant scholar, C. S. Lewis. 

He said this to a very frightened population in 1956.

"This is the first point to be made: and the first action to be taken is to pull ourselves together.

If we are all going to be destroyed by an atomic bomb, let that bomb when it comes find us doing sensible and human things—praying, working, teaching, reading, listening to music, bathing the children, playing tennis, chatting to our friends over a pint and a game of darts—not huddled together like frightened sheep and thinking about bombs.

They may break our bodies (a microbe can do that) but they need not dominate our minds."

So—wherever you land mentally or philosophically on the topic of the Coronavirus—this is my advice to you today:

Use wisdom but keep on living vibrantly … purposefully … and joyfully!

Wash your hands often and then smile at your neighbors.

Drink lots of water and then ask the elderly people in your neighborhood if you can serve them in anyway.

Send flowers to someone who is homebound.

Go for a walk and breathe in some fresh air.

Write notes ... and e-mails ... and text messages to those who are afraid.

Eat healthy … listen to your favorite music … and read a great book or two.

Pray for the president and for those people who are making very difficult decisions.

Ask your pastor if there is anyone in your church community that you can serve.

Pray for the nurses and doctors at your local hospital.

This is the moment when your faith is worth sharing, so share it.

Don't be afraid to pray for others. 

Allow the peace and love of Christ exude from you.

This is the moment that our faith is real … our hearts are brave … and our peace is resolute.

I'm not afraid ... but I will use wisdom.

Thanks for listening to my heart this week.  As you know by now, my heart is truly not a perfect heart but it is a heart that is filled to overflowing with gratitude for the life I have been given and for the people who walk with me.  And, it continues to be a heart that is relentlessly chasing after God and all that He is!