So many questions rise amidst life’s current chaos. The dilemma is unwrapping where rest the answers? Politicians, journalism and angry mobs hold only more query and division. This week, amidst all current perplexity, my embattled earthly Dad shone illuminating wisdom which, truly and deeply, reflected an answer of response from our Heavenly Father.
Look at the world in which we exist. Power is the source into which society is plugged. Everyone, and everything, is measured by how much power they control. Current humanity believes the rain of any, and every, storm is only overcome by how much power reigns within a mortal’s hands; but what does our immortal God declare? My earthly Dad personified the answer to this question.
For my Dad, this New Year’s Day dawned with, not Covid, but a different life threatening hospitalization. During his eleven Medical Center days, I was allowed to sit by his bedside and in the OR waiting room. Dad felt peace because family (represented by me) could understand his needs and make necessary decisions. Then things changed, and a rehab facility became his next needed destination. Here, a different set of Covid rules governed. Not only was Dad (due to the chaos of a worldly pandemic) denied the gift of needed family in vigil by his side; but also, his negative Covid test, at best, gained him admission to the facility, and, at worst, garnered him the privilege of entering into the prison of a two week solitary isolation.
As my Dad sobbed into his phone (and my heart and soul) how confused and weak he felt and that none of this would drown him, if I were able to be with him and help him understand what was happening and that all would result in restoration, I clearly saw the difference between my 94 year old Daddy and present day society. My Daddy’s source of strength for fighting all earthly battles is deeply, and “soul”y, rooted in family security and love. Society, today, is shallowly founded, and grounded, in worldly power as the sole weapon to slay all opposing forces.
I see our Heavenly Father reflected in my earthly Dad. Our present day society mirrors the opposite. For each, and every, child of God, are we not assured all our battles will be won if we (first, foremost, always and only) place our trust and find our way not in worldly power but in the security and love of being surrounded by our family – our Heavenly Father, our Brother Christ and our Holy Spirit?
In spite of this war against Covid-19 and being locked outside by worldly restrictions, ours is the ability to knock on a window pane, with remote hearing device in hand, and rest in family security and love. So, why are we letting other pandemics of present day existence keep us from finding a life of security and love in God and all His promises to us, His family? “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8 (ESV)
Uplifted in a Broken Down World 