The newest term used during this time of turmoil, is the ‘New Normal’, and getting back to it. Which does not make sense, we can’t get back to something new. It is just another way to daze and confuse in the midst of this chaos.
nor•mal
adj.1. conforming to the standard or the common type; usual; regular; natural.2. serving to fix a standard.3. of natural occurrence.4. approximately average in any psychological trait, as intelligence, personality, or emotional adjustment.5. free from any mental disorder; sane.6. free from disease or malformation.7.a. being at right angles, as a line; perpendicular.b. of the nature of or pertaining to a mathematical normal.8.a. (of a solution) containing one equivalent weight of the constituent in question in one liter of solution.b. pertaining to an aliphatic hydrocarbon having a straight unbranched carbon chain, each carbon atom of whichis joined to no more than two other carbon atoms.n.9. the normal form or state; the average or mean.10. the standard or common type.11.a. a perpendicular line or plane, esp. one perpendicular to a tangent line of a curve, or a tangent plane of asurface, at the point of contact.b. the portion of this perpendicular line included between its point of contact with the curve and the x-axis.
Conforming to the standard. Usual. Regular. Fix a standard. Natural Occurrence (like sickness and death and the world continues to operate). Average intelligence, mentality. No disease. No malformation. … Then the rest is about math and science, and above my average intelligence. Looking at the definition, normal can not be attained, new or old. We have never been normal and never will be.
So what is it we want? What is our goal? To go back? To to be doing what we were doing before we first heard about the Wuhan flu, that morphed to Covid 19, to conform to political correctness. We will never go back. Cant, won’t happen, nothing will be as it was. . Yesterday is gone. January 1, 2020 is gone. July 4, 1962 is gone, October 29,1929 is gone. December 29, 1845 ,gone. October 1, 1949, gone. April 3, 33 is gone. Gone, but not forgotten. Gone, but not wasted. Gone, but the decisions made, the actions taken, those days past, impact today and tomorrow, eternity.
Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62 ESv
We can only go forward.
“Remember not the former things,nor consider the things of old.19 Behold, I am doing a new thing;now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? Isaiah 43:18–19
Wake up every day and know there is potential for better. For surviving it, or not. For making good or evil. For knowing there will be trouble. Knowing something not ‘normal’ will definitely happen during the day, for everyone everywhere. Be it a hiccup or a missile coming through the roof.
John 16:33b In the world you will have tribulation. But take heartI have overcome the world.”
THIS is what we must understand there is always trials and strife we must endure. Troubles are different for every person. For some it can be encountering a cobra on the path as they walk 3 miles to get their water for the day. For others it is the nurse not being able to find a vein on dialysis day. Some it is the baby teething and not taking a nap and needing to get dinner ready for guests. A few are waking up every morning knowing they are not welcome in the life of someone they love dearly. Today, where I am, thousands of people work in an industry dependent on oil, and the barrel price just dropped into the negative value. Recovering from a virus is much more sure than having a job around here. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring. How much worse will it be?
Matthew 6:34 (ESV)“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
We are in uncertain times. The truth is man always has been. We don’t know what tomorrow brings, ever. We don’t control tomorrow, we don’t control the next second. The frustration and fear comes from our not realizing that. We thought we had everything in control, then; we couldn’t go to work, because someone in China got the flu. An electric wire sparked in the attic. Someone assumed the worst of you. Your child choked. You didn’t see that car coming. You heard the wail of the tornado siren. The levee broke. Your husband didn’t come home one night. You started cramping in the 4th month. There is a run on the bank.You find a lump. A missile is sent in the sky. It rains 40 days and nights. The earth opens. Planes crash into buildings. Drought kills the crops. You are taken into captivity. Your child is diagnosed with lifelong illness. Your innocent friend arrested and crucified. All times are uncertain, all the time.
So what do we do? We look at the one and only who is in control. God. We know that whatever happens, in this fallen world, we will come out of it with God. Maybe literally we will be WITH God in our next moment and out of this world. Or we will come out of this trial strengthened and renewed. Whatever it is, He IS in Control.
Joshua 1:9 (ESV)Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Romans 8:18 (ESV)For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
Habakuk 319 God, the Lord, is my strength;See 2 Sam. 2:18 he makes my feet like the deer’s;he makes me Amos 4:13; Mic. 1:3 tread on my Deut. 32:13; 33:29 high places.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him
I'm Not So Petty 