Here we are with the predicted second surge! I'm quite aware of fears, (I am almost repeating email content from two months ago) but I don't live by the grip of fear. I hope this statement makes sense. I make this statement in humble sincerity. 

2 Timothy 1:7 says "for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" as well as John 14:27, "...Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid". It's the "sound mind" phrase that first arrests my attention. Sound mind means the fear has been weighed, wrestled with, faced, understood yet dismissed because of a spirit of "calm". Ah! that's it. Not ignored or stick our head in the sand, but rather faced, measured and dismissed because of a "calm" that God has given us.

The night before open-heart surgery I slept like a baby! It was the best night sleep of the previous 7 days in the hospital. I was completely content. I remember as I was being strapped down to a surgical table and discussing the procedure, I could be afraid or remain calm. My heart would be taken out to have a hole cut in it to excise a tumor. My heart's new hole would then be patched with bovine material, then everything would be reconnected...easy as cake. A scientist from Space X was quoted, "there are a 1,000 things that can happen when you ignite a space rocket...only one has a good outcome". So it is, I remember thinking a thousand things can happen in the next 4 hours in this operating room, only one is good.

Finally, don't forget the Apostle Paul's words in Philippians 1:20-23 "For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don't know which is better, I'm torn between two desires..."

Of the Philippian verse above I'm struck by a second phrase. I highlighted it for you in bold and italicized it for you, "but if I live..." what a strange, bold, courageous, exciting and opportunistic statement. I have always hated the old brimstone and fire statement, "if you die tonight do you know where you will go? Heaven or hell?" I've always liked the other statement, "if you don't die tonight, how will you live for tomorrow...?" 

We are all wrestling with this Covid thing. We aren't out of the woods and in the "all clear". But rather in the midst of it all, the thick of it all, I'd still rather live in the confidence of my Lord. After wrestling and measuring it, I'll choose a spirit of calm". And as I live, I'll live with courage. I hope you will choose these two perspectives as well.