With the coronavirus beginning to flatten out, many are talking about going back to life as usual. People are longing to return to their jobs, their restaurants, their sports, and to various social gatherings. The president and various governors around the country are trying to develop plans for getting the country running again. We all long to get “back to normal”. But let’s stop and do some thinking before we get back to normal in our lives. I believe that this pandemic should teach us some valuable lessons that we should take with us whenever we do get to go back to normal again.
The first lesson we should learn and then take with us is: the preciousness of family. With schools canceled, evening sporting events sidelined, and a host of busy activities put to a halt families have been home together. Families and couples play games, cook together, read together and spend more time in each other’s presence than they have perhaps in their whole lives. This sheltering in place has reminded us of the priority of family. We must be sure to bring this value into our back to normal life.
Another lesson we should learn is: the pricelessness of fellowship. God has told us not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together (Heb. 10:25). Churches have not been able to do this in person due to the spread of the virus. We can hear the Word of God online, and worship our Lord anywhere and anytime. But the one valuable thing we are missing is the fellowship of the saints. When we are able to go back home to our churches, let’s bring with us a new appreciation for the pricelessness of fellowship.
One other lesson I think we should learn is: the fragileness of life. 1 Peter 1:24-25 tells us: "All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, But the word of the LORD endures forever…" We never know what can happen in our lives; disease, disaster, and death await us at any time. We must make sure that we place our faith and our feet on the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ.
Life will get back to normal. But may we as God’s people determine to bring into it a new normal.