“Life is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you are going to get
.
” –Forrest Gump
We are beginning our eighth week of facing this pandemic with so many questions swirling around us. On March 1, we could not have imagined what was coming as we all went about our daily lives, increasingly aware that the coronavirus was creeping in our direction. By March 13
,
we knew this was different from anything we had ever faced before. We did not know what we were going to get
–
and we still don’t, but we do know that life will be forever altered by this experience.
David Kessler is quoted in his latest book,
Finding Meaning
: “…finding meaning in loss empowers us to find a path forward…when circumstances are at their worst, you can find your bes
t
”
...
He also says that while we cannot control many of the events that occur, “we do have control over how we choose to spend whatever time remains to us.”
I am reminded of Anthony Ray Hinton who was imprisoned in the South in 1985 for crimes he did not commit. He did not speak for his first 3 years on death row. Soon afterwards Hinton decided that the ONLY thing he could control was HOW he reacted and acted while in prison.
He became a leader of those in the prison and began a prison book group which helped transform his life as well as that of his fellow inmates. His story is an inspiration in the power of hope, faith and forgiveness which was sustained by the unconditional love of his mother, his best friend Lester, and God.
Today marks the 200
th
anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birthday in Florence, Italy which inspired her name. She was a trailblazer in the field of nursing who greatly affected policies around proper medical care. Florence was born into an affluent British family of high social standing. Her parents forbade her to pursue training in nursing, as it was considered lowly menial labor in those days. Throughout her youth she continually sought opportunities to help others and eventually it was apparent to Florence that her desire to pursue nursing was a divine calling. She was known as “The Lady with the Lamp” due to her night rounds to tend to the wounded in the Crimean War. When she was 38 she contracted the Crimean Fever and remained homebound and routinely bedridden for the rest of her life before dying at 93 in 1910. Florence Nightingale devoted her life to promoting safe and compassionate care for the poor and suffering.
No one has asked for this terrible virus or the chaos and loss it is causing, but we do have a choice about what we will do with what we have been given.
“Show me the way, show me the way./ Give me the strength and the courage/to believe that I’ll get there someday.
..
and please show me the way.” Styx, 1994
“
If only we pay attention, God will show us the way.
”
d
365
Daily Devotions
, May 10, 2020
“Thank Me for your problems…and bring THEM to Me with thanksgiving. Then ask Me to show you My way to handle the situation.”
Jesus Calling
: May 11, 2020
“Show me your ways, O Lord, and teach me your paths; lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; in you I have trusted all day long.” Psalm 25:3-4
Marty
