Yesterday morning as I was doing my prayer devotional on Lectio 365 I read the following: “The current global crisis is forcing many of us to ask profound questions about our priorities and purpose in life. Most of the activities that filled our schedules have suddenly stopped. The time has slowed down.Things we considered certain have been shaken to the core.” (Written by Pete Greig)
On the one hand, the fact that our lives have suddenly slowed down is not such a bad thing. (Picture the scene from the Matrix where Neo gets a handle on his amazing ability). I’m sure many of us have been feeling overwhelmed, and the busyness of our day to day lives was becoming almost unbearable with multiple pressures all vying for our time.
If we take the time to look at the statistics surrounding stress, mental health and suicide across the board, throughout the world, then this is unfortunately true for many of us, regardless of our professions.
Unfortunately though for others their lives have not only slowed down, they have come to an abrupt stop. Their businesses have been forced to close and they are trying to come to terms with what that means for them, their families, their employees and also their customers. How are they going to get through this? What hope is there going forward? When is life going to get back to some form of normality? and many more questions I’m sure…
For others though, their lives have suddenly got busier as they are deemed an essential service, and they have to ramp up their response to this pandemic. Working on the fly to put structures, procedures and the like into place, as they try to do all that they can to help us all get through this time of lockdown.
Regardless of what we are facing, we are all going through some measure of stress due to the circumstances that life has thrown our way.
Drawing on the story of the woman anointing Jesus, found in Matthew 26:6-13, Pete says that Mary in this defining act “has come to the conclusion that her relationship with Jesus is more pressing than forward planning, more important than her reputation, and more valuable than all her savings. Nothing matters more to her in this moment than worship.”
I wonder in this moment what matters more to you? Are you prepared to set everything aside as the woman did? As we approach the Easter story and take the journey to the cross along with Jesus, will you allow yourself to focus on aspects of the story, that may just move you to reevaluate the importance you have placed on other things in life?
This was the prayer of preparation for this time of contemplation: “Lord Jesus, my heart is heavy as I join you on your journey to the cross. Gethsemane has come to our hospitals. Golgotha casts its shadow across our land. Lead me through the darkness of these days to the light and life of Easter once again.” Amen.
The life and times of Perry... 