Changed in an Instant

We rang in 2020, of the new year

with lots of laughter good times and cheer.

It did not take long for everyone to see

we should have started this year differently.

Chaos is a common state for our world,

But it gets out of control with each spoken word.

Don’t’ go out in public or hug each other.

Close all schools and businesses said the government.

Do not gather together and we will get through this.

But after many days passed, we began to ask what if …

our isolation only caused this crisis to double

The aloneness triggered more depression and trouble.

Irritability increased, impatience and intolerance.

Then suddenly the virus was replaced by violence.

Rage and hatred have taken over our land,

and certainly, everything has gotten out of hand.

Was there a better way to keep everyone safe?

Could we have continued to live but learned to replace

thoughtless care for sanitation and spreading the germs

which has been proven to protect us from all the harm?

We were taught as children by our parents early on,

wash your hands thoroughly, let the dirt be gone.

Cover your mouth completely when you cough and sneeze,

Oh, and keep your hands away from your face if you please.

Stay home and away from others if you are sick.

If you get worse, go to the doctor really quick.

Do not carry your illness to parties or work,

take care of yourself, we were taught how since birth.

Be aware of your neighbors and if someone is in need,

do what you can to help them succeed.

You can honor them with thoughtful words, clothing, or food,

Give from your many blessings to those who have few.

Our isolation has turned many of us to destruction

as we wallow in despair and dwell on frustration.

Kindness disappeared when we stayed in our homes

thinking we had to survive all of this on our own.

Our graduating seniors have suffered a lot

They could not celebrate the twelve years they were taught.

They were not able to gather together as a class

or dream about how their future would pass.

After all this despair is there any more hope?

What is out there for us to help us cope?

Who is capable of spreading a little cheer,

to us and to those we love and hold dear?

The answer is as old as God’s creation.

He had the power to create us and he can stop the destruction.

He does it, not with fanfare of trumpets and noise.

He quietly and powerfully uses His church to spread joy.

The church did not take a vacation from life.

Instead they invented new ways to shine God’s light.

They flooded their congregations with lots of encouragement,

and reminded us, underneath we are not all that different.

All of us require contact and connection to each other,

our family our friends our sisters and brothers.

We cannot ignore our need for interactions 

if we do, the results are hatred and frustrations.

God does not want us to isolate from our life.

He wants us to spread His goodness and light

to a lost world living in all this chaos.

He reminds us to replace with joy, what we lost.

Thank you to the many health professionals,

who tirelessly gave of themselves with no hesitation.

To all the peacekeepers who came out in force

and the good people who continued the course.

Remember this, in the end of everything,

God is in control and His will is to redeem

those who believe His words and accept

His salvation, and His love that will not quit.

So, in summation we have a choice 

in the actions we take. Will we cry or rejoice?

I choose to not allow the bad news we hear

defeat me, but with God’s help, I will spread Cheer.