Because It Matters
/
If nothing else, this COVID-19 pandemic has shown, what really matters. As of this writing the projections are for at least a 30% unemployment, a stimulus package that our great-great grandchildren will be paying off and hundreds of businesses both small and large shutting down because they could not survive the weeks of no business.
Why do all this to our economy? Because social distancing and sheltering in place will prevent the spread of the virus.
Why does that matter? Because the prevention of the spreading of the virus will mean less people infected by the virus.
Why does that matter? Because less people being infected means fewer people needing hospitalization.
Why does that matter? Because fewer people being hospitalized means more people will be able to have access to ventilators.
Why does that matter? Because more people able to access ventilators will mean more people will be able to recover from the virus.
Why does that matter? Because it saves lives.
So let’s go back to high school algebra, if A=B and B=C than A=C, right? So, doing such “damage” to our economy matters because it saves lives and therefore lives matter more than our economy.
One day we will be out of this pandemic. One day we will be able to hug our friends and extended family members. One day we will get back on planes and shake hands and worship in our church buildings.
When that time comes, will we remember what really matters? Will our priorities get out of whack again? Will we once again be driven by the temporary and not the eternal?
My passion is to make sure that does not happen to me or others around me. My desire is to help people especially women live out what matters to them. Hopefully, during this time, many of us have gained clarity in what matters. If not, before this is all over, maybe take some time to do that. If you do have clarity about what matters to you, begin working on a plan to make sure that when life gets back to “normal” you keep the main thing the main thing.
For many, this clarity exercise and plan development is challenging so that is why over the next few weeks, I am going to take time each day to speak into that. I am going to provide tips and questions to help you make sure you do not go back to status quo. That the things that matter most to you, continue to receive your best after this pandemic.
In the Principle of the Path by Andy Stanley says, “Direction – not intentions – determines our destination.” Here are some examples:
o A man says, “I desire to have a great marriage”…yet when he is with his wife he is on his phone.
o A middle age businesswoman says, “I desire to be financially secure at retirement” yet lives above her means today.
o A young dad says, “I want to be around for my grandchildren’s wedding”…yet spends no time exercising and overeats.
o A college coed says, “I want to have a deep spiritual walk with the Lord”…yet spends each morning reading the latest blog posts.
o A young woman says, “I want my husband to love the Lord with all his heart” …yet dates any guy that asks her out because he is cute.
o A mom of teens says, “I want my children to have deep relationships with Christian friends” …yet doesn’t take the time for church during the week or on weekends.
They all had great intentions and for many deep desires but their actions did not reflect their intentions. When are actions are incongruent with our desires, we live lives of quiet desperation that will only be relieved when our actions match up to our desires.
I have created a worksheet that will help you begin to find clarity in your calling and help identify where you might have any inconsistencies. If you would like to download that worksheet, just go to this website. As always, if there is any way I can help you, please be in touch.
