World Affairs

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    Back in the day, our parents would urgently give this sage piece of advice to their children and teens: “Don’t be in such a hurry!”  If you had recovered from a major surgery or illness, the sage advice of the medical professional was: “Don’t be in such a hurry; take your time to fully recover!”  Romances and relationships--the ones worth having--have a similar sign posted over them:  “Don’t be in such a hurry; take the time to get to know the other person!”

    The world is continuing to come out of the Wuhan Virus pestilence; a disease which may take a few more months to run its full course.  In our country, the catcalls and prodding have already begun to ‘turn the economy on’ and get back to ‘a normal life’.  Sports leagues and franchises want to ‘resume’ their seasons; actors and actresses and the league of entertainment want to churn out their low brow art, and the powers-that-be want people to get back to work to spend their cash on luxuries, rather than necessities.

    My advice?  Let’s not get in such a hurry to resume anything without learning some lessons.  Beware of those who want to ‘get back to normal’ too quickly.  They want your money, without necessarily wanting you.  Just because you live in a microwave era complete with high tech speed and video toys of every shape and size does NOT mean that time is going to speed along just so you can go back to your amusements.

    A headline over one newspaper article featured a hotel chain that would be willing to take your money now, in order to secure a room or suite for yourself after the pandemic has ended.  Thus, someone is quite willing to take your money to meet their bottom line.  Never mind the fact that many of us need OUR cash now just to take care of our local churches and other necessities.

    I find it fascinating to see who wants to part a man from his money.  How many years has society been warned about its ‘debt and dump’ schemes?  How many employers have ‘robbed’ their employees of just wages?  How many colleges and universities ‘inflated’ prices and mismanaged their OWN books?  How many governments--from your City Hall down the street to Capitol Hill--have kicked the can down the road concerning their spending habits--all the while, collecting RECORD tax revenues?

    Let’s not get in such a hurry to ‘get back to normal’ without learning a few things about ourselves.  We’ve had three years of prosperity.  We may need to suffer three years of lean times--that is, IF God is merciful.  

    Don’t be in a hurry.  Count the cost of your next move.  The price may be high.

    I got a smile recently from an overseas newspaper.  It seems that, thanks to the pandemic, women who used to carry briefcases have ‘rediscovered’ their husbands, children and their OWN homes and fell in love with wearing aprons and the joys of cooking, cleaning and sewing.  In short, being subjected to a quarantine as a housewife at home, educating your own children and teens and being loved and provided for by your OWN husband (instead of a boss on a thankless job that will not love you back) may become the ‘new normal’ that is God approved.

    This whole pestilence; this entire pandemic episode reminds me of what happened to Joseph in the Old Testament.  Joseph, as you may recall, was sold down the road by his brothers, who were jealous of his being the favorite of his father, Jacob.  Some 13 years pass. Joseph wound up in the court of Pharaoh.  No longer was Joseph a cocky teenager.  Now, he was an older, seasoned saint of a man, who had the Lord with him.  His moment came when God allowed him to understand and interpret Pharaoh’s dream of seven years of plenty, followed by seven years of famine in the land.  What made Joseph’s story even more amazing?  He had to suffer THROUGH hard times, in order to be able to live through even HARDER times, before he got the blessing God had for him.  In short, Joseph had to go through a double portion of hard times, to get to a double portion of blessing.

    What about Jesus Christ?  Was He ever in a hurry during his earthly ministry?  The answer is a hearty NO!  Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead, was falsely accused, suffered sham trials, and was nailed to the Cross.  Later, He rose from the dead by the power of God.  At no time was he in a ‘hurry’ to complete His mission on earth.

    Don’t be in such a hurry to ‘run through’ the valley of ‘hard times’, no matter how merchants, the mainstream press, the government or other people may push or prod you.  Don’t be distracted by the shinny baubles of ‘getting back to normal’.  This pestilence hit the world at the time ordained by God to teach us ALL some much needed lessons.  It’s not going anywhere until God’s right time.  Let’s not get in no hurry to move on, without listening to His proclamation, nor be anxious to out-run the lessons we need to learn, or re-learn.

    A relapse--at THIS point of the lesson--could prove to be fatal.  It’s better to limp through the lesson that Christ has for you, rather than to not make it through the valley at all.  Don’t be in a hurry.  Don’t rush…and don’t attempt to rush ahead of God.  Getting this nation back on track is STILL about His timing…not our wishes or lusts.

    Mike Ramey is a Minister, Book Reviewer, P-School Ranger, Modern Street Gangs Specialist and Syndicated Columnist who lives in Indianapolis, Indiana.  “The Ramey Commentaries” is one of a variety of columns that Ramey has in cyberspace.  To drop him a line…or a whine…the address is still the same:  [email protected].  ©2020  Barnstorm Communications.

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