One’s just chugging along in life until something pushes a stop sign in your face and you come to a standstill with screeching brakes. This is where you’re forced to stop, to take a look at your life and ask whether you are going in the right direction.

Like the world was literally and figuratively forced to a standstill with the arrival of the Covid-19 virus. The wings of planes were cut. Countries’ doors were simply closed and governments locked citizens inside their own homes.

The whole world came to a standstill. People had time to think and we saw and experienced many things that we have never seen or experienced before:

• • The water in Venice’s canals turned crystal clear. Fish returned. Even dolphins and jellyfish played in the canals again.
  • In an Eastern country, the people could breathe fresh air again, because the factories that pollute the air so much were closed.
  • People in the north of India could again see the Himalayan Mountains hundreds of kilometres away – also because the pollution stopped for the time being.

Then one sees how we are torturing this earth; she is crying. We people are destroying the earth and we don’t realise it. But I also realise a few other things:

• • Humans are far from being in control – a minute virus (that’s not even alive!) can bring all of mankind to a standstill.
  • We spend most of our energy on money, but when the trouble starts, it doesn’t matter much how much money we have.
  • We go in the wrong direction and leave what is most important behind. We spend the minimum time and energy on our relationships. When the dust settles and we’re caught between the four walls of our homes, we only have each other. And relationships are what keep us together.
  • People are fragile.

In a world going in one direction, it’s difficult not to be swept along, and most often it happens without us realising it.

Then it’s good to be forced to stop and reconsider the great truths of our lives. To go back to the original purpose of our existence here on earth: ¹So, my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He’s the centrepiece of everything we believe …

You and I are called to be set apart for God. Set apart to be here on earth for Jesus. Let’s remember that and live it. The rest is simply noise.

Scripture
Hebrews 3:1-6

Reflection
What’s your focus?
What do you have to change?
What is your calling?

Prayer
Father, I’m sorry that I get swept along by life’s streams. I’m sorry that I forget that my first purpose here on earth is to glorify your Name. Please show me where I have to live differently. I want to focus on Jesus only. Amen.