Life After The Plague: 5 Ways It Could Change Us For The Better

After practicing "social distancing" for months, wearing masks in public, and waiting for everything to open again at 100% capacity, it makes me wonder what it will be like when it all finally gets back to normal. The question is, will it ever be the same again? Or more importantly, will we personally ever be the same again? I think not. We will be changed.

But will we be changed for the better? That may be up to you to make that determination. Change will be either detrimental, damaging, and hurtful; or change can be beneficial, positive, and advantageous. It's really up to you. And a lot of it depends on individual attitude and motivation.

Certainly good things can come out of bad situations. And we are surely in a bad situation. We have the virus, we have racism issues, and we have riots. Sometimes it's hard to see in the moment how good can be achievable in the environment we are in. Can it really be possible to overcome this mess anytime soon? It all remains to be seen.

Perhaps each of us needs to look deep inside ourselves first. Maybe it's time to self evaluate our hearts and our minds. And maybe it's time to change our hearts and minds for the better.

"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 119:23-24)

What route, what path, will you decide to take in your journey forward? Below are five ways that these turbulent times could change you for the better, if you allow it to.

1) See Other People In A Different Light

God calls us to love one another. This kind of love is unconditional, regardless of race or circumstance. Will you come out of this crisis we are in as one who listens and tries to understand people? A lot of people are hurting, will you have a compassionate heart? Will you be an encourager?

2) Appreciate Our Freedom

Nothing seems to make us appreciate things more than simply missing having them available to us. Being under stay-at-home requirements makes us miss more than ever going out whenever and wherever. Let's move forward, appreciating the personal freedom we have in this country, and not taking it for granted.

3) Value Family and Friends

Man was not created to be alone. We are social creatures. We like to do things together, to talk and communicate, and to interact. This is especially true of family. Maybe being concerned with our own family's health and safety in these times will increase our love and appreciation for each other. This holds true for friends as well. For Christians, we miss our Christian brothers and sisters -- those who are like-minded in our beliefs and passions. Will we appreciate more than ever our times together?

4) Practice Good Health Habits

One way this virus could change us for the better is by making us more conscientious in our health practices from here on out, including better hygiene. And taking preventative steps to maintain our health. 

5) Draw Closer To The Lord

Hopefully, during this crisis, you have turned to the Lord more than ever. May that continue forward. Praying more, acknowledging God more, understanding Him more through Bible reading, and developing a relationship with Him are great positive steps forward. Sometimes we all need a shake up to realize how important God is in our life, and how much we need Him. 

So remember, you can choose which path to take in the days ahead. May we all be wise in our actions and decisions as we go forward. 

The Dumb Ass Speaks!

You may be wondering who I'm talking about. Who is the dumb ass? Who is the asinine person who is saying or acting stupid? I bet you have a lot of examples in mind. What's funny is that I'm not talking about a person at all! I'm talking about a donkey!  Yes, a donkey -- who can't speak -- but actually does! Impossible? Yes, or is it?

The word donkey or ass is interchangeable. The word 'ass' is actually derived from the last word in the species classification, Equus Africanus Asinus. That particular word "asinus" is where the word "asinine" comes from, which means extremely or utterly foolish. A great word if you ask me, and a truly hilarious one as well.

In our language, a male donkey is called a 'jack', thus a jack-ass. I remember as a young boy, saying something foolish, and my mom saying, "Don't be a jackass." Sometimes it was shortened it to, "Don't be an ass." When I reflect back on those words, I now laugh out loud.

Over the years, the poor donkey has gotten a notoriously bad rap for being stubborn, headstrong, and downright pigheaded. However, there's an interesting explanation for why they are sometimes that way. When a donkey perceives something as dangerous, or if they become scared, it's virtually impossible to make them move towards it. It's an instinctive reaction.

Around the mid-1800's, the term 'donkey' became a more common term instead of 'ass'. The King James Version of the Bible, originally written in 1611, actually uses the word 'ass' instead of 'donkey'. And it seems to me that most people who are quoting a verse from the King James Bible containing this word, hesitate from saying it out loud, for fear that someone might chuckle. Most modern versions of the Bible substitute the word donkey instead.

There is even a Christmas carol that uses the word 'ass'. And many are too embarrassed to sing the particular verse that contains that word. It's found in the song, "What Child Is This", written in 1865. Verse two of the song goes like this, "Why lies He in such mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding? Good Christian, fear: for sinners here, the silent Word is pleading."

The word I use in the title, dumb, is not referring to stupid, but speechless - unable to talk - as in deaf and dumb. So when I say that the dumb ass speaks, what I'm saying is that a donkey, who of course can't speak, actually talks out loud. And it really happened! It was a miracle -- the miracle of a talking donkey - the dumb ass speaks. 

This fascinating miracle of the talking donkey is recorded in detail in the Bible. Here's the background for the story...... the king of the Moabites was afraid that the Israelites, God's chosen people, were going to take his land, so he sent for a man named Balaam to curse the nation of Israel. Balaam started on his journey to meet the king. Obviously, this was against God's will. So here's how God stopped Balaam. 

So the next morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and started off with the Moabite officials. But God was angry that Balaam was going, so he sent the angel of the Lord to stand in the road to block his way. As Balaam and two servants were riding along, Balaam’s donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. The donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat it and turned it back onto the road. Then the angel of the Lord stood at a place where the road narrowed between two vineyard walls. When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it tried to squeeze by and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So Balaam beat the donkey again. Then the angel of the Lord moved farther down the road and stood in a place too narrow for the donkey to get by at all. This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage Balaam beat the animal again with his staff.

Then the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak. “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?” it asked Balaam. “You have made me look like a fool!” Balaam shouted. “If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!”  “But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life,” the donkey answered. “Have I ever done anything like this before?”  “No,” Balaam admitted.

Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him. “Why did you beat your donkey those three times?” the angel of the Lord demanded. “Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me. Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey.” (Numbers 22:21-33)

If you read the next few chapters, you will find that the Lord eventually allows Balaam to go ahead and meet the king of Maob, but his mission is totally reversed. He goes not to curse Israel, but conversely, God gives Balaam the words to deliver messages that proclaim that Israel is God's chosen, blessed nation. 

When we look back on our lives, sometimes we can see how we were once headed in the wrong direction ourselves, maybe living against God's will. Maybe we were once ignoring God, or even living as opposed to Him. But Jesus has the power to change lives. And perhaps you are not who you used to be. And like Balaam, your mission, your purpose in life, your words and actions now proclaim God's glory, not go against it. I hope this describes you.