The Week that Changed Everything

Every change changes everything.

And everything has changed. 

Because of the pandemic, I end each day with more fatigue from the online work and conversations that are meant to keep me connected, but also drain me physically. Being human online seems to take more stamina because it is a disconnect with my physical and expressive human self. 

Because of the pandemic, I am scouring the internet for the best root touchup products, cleaning corners of my house that have never seen the light of day, and placing online orders for family members who live far away and to whom I am compelled to care for from a distance. 

Because of the pandemic, I walk the fine line between giving myself grace to rest and relax to totally becoming listless and unmotivated. The power of the drift is real.

Because of the pandemic, I hear stories of ‘momming’ that has turned homes into battlefields. The retreat in defeat scenario is becoming the strategy as well-meaning moms hide themselves in their closets for fear of their anger and frustration and desperation spilling over onto their children. 

Because of the pandemic, marriages are at their breaking point as personal space has lost its defining boundary  and it becomes harder to breathe and even smile through clenched teeth.

Because of the pandemic I can’t make plans for the future and mark them in my beautiful red moleskin, which made me feel like I was in control of my life.  There may be things to do, but there are no longer places to go. I even go in shame to my weekly grocery store runs thinking that people will think I am behaving unethically by venturing out. 

Because of the pandemic, I cross to the other side of the street on my walks, to put distance between myself and others.  

Because of the pandemic, the privilege of hugging, touching, showing up in the House of God in collective worship and the body of Christ has translated to watching as much worship and teaching as I can find online, by myself, in my pajamas.

This is real. This is now. This is us. 

But for those of us who have hope, have we let this current time in history overshadow the week that changed everything?
Before the cross, there was no love, no grace, no chance to confess, repent, be reconciled and start a new minute, a new hour, a new day. 

Before the cross, cultures imploded and were brought down to their knees by idols of excess and privilege and protecting the status quo.

Before the cross. 

But we are not living before the cross. 

 We are living BECAUSE of the cross and AFTER the Resurrection.

The pandemic has changed everything and turned upside down life as we knew it. There isn’t an area of our complicated lives that hasn’t been touched or impacted. At first the sight of yellow-taped cordoned-off playgrounds were unimaginable and now they have become a normal in the now. How quickly, literally overnight, we have adapted our lives to the intruder with some complaints and some denial and lots of loss, but with an outstanding amount of compliance to the powers that be.

Would we be brave enough, strong enough, and believe enough to return our allegiance to the ONE who overcame every evil intent of the enemy and conquered every disastrous outcome of any historical disruptive circumstance, including this one.

 This Holy Week is the week that changed everything. 

It has opened the opportunity to experience real and irreversible lasting change – from the inside out.  Because of our new identity as heirs of the Sovereign King of Kings, we will not let this intrusion into the fabric of our lives – this external disruption – define us or allow it to diminish our humanity and our divine calling. We have been changed from the inside and now have choices to how we respond to all disruptions coming from the outside.

We will put things right, back in order and put God back in charge as the Ruler of the Universe who holds our destiny in His hand.  

The pandemic does not hold or define our destiny, rather the choices we make in the pandemic in partnership with God, will. 

Would we be brave enough to remember that this is Holy Week, the week that changed everything once and for all, and be the people who no longer say: “because of the pandemic, this is what I have lost”, but rather “because of the cross and Resurrection of Jesus Christ”, this is what I have gained?

This battle begins and ends in our mind, in our soul, in where we choose to focus our trust.

This battle will not be won in hospital corridors and political spheres but on the knees of praying saints who know the One to whom the final outcome belongs.

 My prayer for you is that you would remember the week that changed everything forever and because of the cross and Resurrection, nothing will come to harm you that God has not already given His life for. You are covered in grace. You are covered in love. You are covered in destiny. You have a secure hope. Let this be your testimony.

Revelation 2:11-12 (AMP)

And they overcame and conquered him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, for they did not love their life and renounce their faith even when faced with death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them in the presence of God.

You are loved.

Cathie