WORDS
It has been a long time since I wrote a blog. With all that has happened in the world I did not feel that one more opinion needed to be added. But I feel that something inside me needs to be said. My last post back in January talked about the 10 words that had shaped my past decade. As I think about the past six months, there are six words that have reshaped our world – Covid-19, Injustice, Radicalism, Fear, Intolerance, and Distancing.
COVID-19
When we left for Ukraine the beginning of March, we knew that the coronavirus was impacting China and had started to spread to Italy, but we never expected that the world would begin to shut-down in the middle of our trip and that we would have to find last minute travel arrangements to get home. Having traveled through the airports in Kiev, Amsterdam and New York (JFK), we isolated ourselves for 17 days to be safe. We never expected that the virus would change the world the way it has.
INJUSTICE
During the time of lockdown, things still happen, and we experienced a world incensed due to racial injustice brought on by the tragic death of George Floyd. We watched as the world forgot about the virus and took to the street to protest and in some cases rioting and looting to express their pent-up emotions. While some good has come from dialog around racial injustice and the need to help those impacted, there has also been increased violence and polarization.
RADICALISM
We seem to have lost the center for our views and dialog. Our politics seem to have been driven by the fringes of the right or left and we can no longer find common ground to work together. We hear extreme views and failure to agree with them makes you an outcast. To get what people want, they have taken over the rule of law and used violence to make their point.
FEAR
We are living in a state of fear. Fear of getting COVID-19, fear of spreading the virus to others, fear of catching the virus from virtually anything. Fear of economic collapse. Fear of having to teach your kids at home with distance learning. Fear of attending any gathering. The fear is damaging the mental health of so many. Depression, suicide, mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse seem to be growing under the surface.
INTOLERANCE
Our world has moved into a place of political correctness. There are a set of beliefs that you have to agree with or you are labeled as intolerant. You can’t disagree or debate these views without being labeled as a racist, bigot, hater or just wrong. Whatever happened to the world where we cared more about the person than about the cause? Today it seems like the cause is all that matters and we don’t care about showing love or respect to people who think, look or act differently than us.
DISTANCING
Social distancing has become the new norm. Wearing face masks, staying 6 feet apart, no hugging, hand shakes or touch. But is this how we were designed? I believe we were created for touch. To be close to each other and to use healthy touch to show love, care and acceptance.
But are these the words I want to have shape my world? Not really. Where is truth in all this? I have found that Covid-19 has impacted me as well. I do not know what the future of our ministry is. Will we be able to travel and do conferences as we have in the past? Will we be able to raise support in this time of financial uncertainty? I have found that even my voice has been silent during this past season. I have not written posts or updated our web pages or social media accounts. I have struggled to know what to say without just adding to the noise.
Recently I finished reading Bob Goff’s latest book “Dream Big”. It reminded me of the importance of dreaming and not allowing distractions to keep you from going after your ambitions. I had to ask myself – is Potential Endeavors still my dream? Am I still passionate about helping people reach their full potential? Am I still passionate about helping pastors and churches to manage through these challenging times and not lose focus to reach the next person for Jesus? Am I still excited to work with leaders in Ukraine to help them and their churches?
As I thought through these questions, the answer came back yes! I still am! I just need to knock down the obstacles and self-imposed limitations and get after it again. Travel may still be an issue, but we can communicate with video. I can still encourage, support and help pastors and leaders in Ukraine as well as across Minnesota and the Dakotas. Just like so many churches are having to do in the face of Covid-19, I am going to need to pivot. I’m going to make the changes I need to make and I am going to knock down the walls that have been put up to stop us.
As I go forward, I want my focus to be on three words: TRUTH, HOPE, ENCOURAGE
TRUTH
There is only one truth, and that is in Jesus. As Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” The world is full of noise. It is hard to know what is true and what is false news. But I know this one thing – in the end it all comes down to Jesus. We can’t control the news or the virus or the impact that it has, but we can decide where we find our truth and our plans for the future, and I chose to make that Jesus and his gift of salvation.
HOPE
Our world is filled with so much anxiety, uncertainty and for some hopelessness. We are seeing soaring levels of depression, addiction and suicide. I want to be a person who helps bring HOPE to the HOPELESS. I love what Romans 5:5 says “And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” Where is your hope today? Is it in the government? Is it in pharmaceutical companies striving to create a vaccine? Is it in yourself? My hope comes from my relationship with Jesus Christ. He promises to be with us and guide us if we let Him. God is in control! I don’t need to let the noise of the world take away my hope for the future.
ENCOURAGE
In this time on craziness, my focus in to be an encouragement to others. I want to be there to listen, support and help people process through these uncertain times. I have seen that this time has been especially hard on pastors. There is so much division within the church that they have to deal with. Do we meet in person? Do we wear masks? Do we offer kids programming? Everyone seems to have an opinion, yet the pastors have to make difficult decisions and no matter what they do, someone will not approve. I love the words from Hebrews 10:25, “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near.” I am not making a political statement about whether churches should be open or not, but I am using this as a reminder for myself that I need to meet with others to encourage them. It may be in person or over video calls, but people need encouragement and that is what I want to do.
So how about you? What are the words or themes that you are going to focus on? What are your dreams or ambitions that you have put on hold and need to get a restart on? Are you living in a state of fear or hopelessness and need to get yourself back refocused? If you are, find someone to talk to. If you need to talk, send me an email at Rick.Post@potentialendeavors.com. I would be happy to talk and be an encouragement. If you are feeling like you are in a good place, then see who you could be an encouragement to today. Send your pastor a note thanking them for their leadership, commitment and willingness to lead through challenging times!