Recently as we talked about the Holland American cruise ships that just docked here in Florida, I argued the many reasons why we shouldn’t have let them do it.
But then I had the thought, if it were my son on that ship, I’d feel differently. In that moment, I saw something: I saw my self-centeredness; I saw that my heart was too small.
At the heart of the Christian story is the call to transformation. Just think about the radical change of character that Jacob, Joseph, and Moses experienced as they journeyed through very difficult situations.
God wants to change us from being a self-centered (egocentric) and unconscious person to one who is whole: having a heart, breadth of vision, and spiritual awareness.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2)
I like this prayer a friend posted: “I pray that when the virus thing is over, I won’t be the same as when it started. I pray that God will use this trial to change me in the ways He wants me to change, now that He has my attention. I pray that the Church, the true believers, will allow him to show us what He wants to change.”
Thank you for your post, as this is my feeling at this moment. My son and four friends left Germany/Europev in October 2019 to do one year work and travel in NewZealand and now this difficult virustheme also reaches this island. We are not yet sure, if they will be brought back from NewZealand, where they also were “imprisoned” in a youth hostel (no work, no sightseeing/travelling) and all flights cancelled. For young men a difficult time in a foreign country. Some voices reached my ears like, well why did they make this trip and also jealous voices, that they could have afforded to do this, they better should have stayed in Europe. It also destroys the future plans of young people, being held at home not knowing, if there will be university courses and further education possible, without stretching our view to what kind of job will they probably find, will they be able to have family etc.. This time is changing our lives for sure, waking up and looking on what is really going on, as well as turning the view onto nature and hopefully on the Almighty God, who makes all this for us, and he still loves us so much. Churches are closed in my surrounding, not even for private prayer or enlighting a candle there is access, so I am forced to use the internet for liturgical reasons. This showed me, that there is also a big lack of trust in God, and God does not live in a churches` tabernacle, but in our heart. I was reminded to Holy people like Don Bosco in Turin, who prayed the rosary with his young men, he obeyed and educated in his Oratorium, and none of them died during the pest.
Thank you for sending me this and as we just move from one country to the other, I did not know, if I would be able to take the Fridays to listen to your zoom seminar, but for the following up, I try to join again. Kind regards and blessings, Yours, Nora
I have my full trust in God, the Almighty, and he will take care of his believers for all his needs. I prays him everyday for what I am allowed to recognize in him and his plans for my special life.
Thank You Nora. I look forward to seeing you on Friday.