to love people in a world that is hurting.

I think it is safe to say that 2020 has proven to be a year much different from the rest. In all my 18 years of living I have never lived through a pandemic. While Illinois has started phase 3, and shops are slowly reopening, the world is yet again in a stir of activism as we mourn the death of George Floyd, as well as countless other lives that have died unjustly. Along with these struggles we are still to cope with an unknown future, it is hard to gauge when our lives will be “normal” again, it is hard to foresee something tangible. I’ve found myself stuck lately, in thoughts about what is to come out of all that is happening? What is the purpose behind this season in life and how do we get through it as a community of people? To be honest, I still don’t really know the purpose for this season, but I think it is all about the perspective.

“Love your neighbor as yourself”

Matthew 22:39

The second greatest commandment God gives us is to love people, the first being to love God with all our being. This commandment of loving others is something I think we need to focus on as a byproduct of loving God. In terms of perspective, this is the lens we should put in front of our eyes. It is okay to let our hearts break over injustice, it is okay to empathize for others, because I believe God’s heart breaks when his creation suffers. What kind of brothers and sisters would we be if we did not encourage and lift up each other, especially in a time such as this. So as I think the purpose of this season can be tricky to uncover, what is needed more is for every person to embrace each other. Now more than ever we are all going through trying times.

While we may not understand what is happening, something I am still trying hard to learn is how to stay in the moment, alongside loving others. Instead of closing our eyes and hoping it will all be over soon, seeking God’s voice in what he is trying to tell us NOW is the best chance at clarity and peace we can get. I was reading in the book of Hebrews,

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see”

Hebrews 11:1

So even though it can feel like the world is falling apart, we are still called to hope for what God has promised us. What we see is limited in comparison to all that God knows, and there is a small relief in that, to know that the future is beyond the limits in our minds.

The last thing I want to talk about is peace, something many of us may be lacking. I see peace as Wednesday morning garbage pick up days. It’s getting rid of the things that gnaw away at your brain and leaving your mind free. I’ve found myself praying for peace a lot, and I’ve found that I have gotten it. In times of stress, ask for peace. In times of pain, love your neighbor louder.