I have encountered so many different outlooks and perspectives throughout this season that we are experiencing. Interestingly, the positive perspectives are not necessarily from those who have remained unscathed, nor have the negative ones come from those who have been painfully impacted by tragedy and loss.

What I did find rather consistent was that those who remained positive all tended to have a similar mindset, Come what may, I will be victorious (or die trying). Whether is was God, Gratitude or Grit that fuelled them, these are the people that I choose to be surrounded by. The Givers, the Doers, the Rays of Sunshine.

Pandemic or no pandemic, we are all bound to experience pain and hardship in our lives at some point. We will undoubtedly have days where the burden tends to weigh on us heavier than others, moments when even forcing a smile is just too difficult…

Mourning is natural and healthy and there is certainly a grieving process that should never be neglected, it forms part of our healing. “Tears are to the soul what bandages are to the body”. One should be careful however, never to get so consumed by disappointment that it leads to despair and even depression, to the point that we lose all hope of a brighter tomorrow.

I recall seeing a post on Facebook recently, a little poem which spoke optimistically about putting together the pieces post the pandemic. It reminded me of Romans 8:28 which reads:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

It resonated within me and was just the kind of hope that keeps us moving forward. A comment on the post however saddened me. Someone stated that we would never recover, there was far too much lost, far too much devastation…

“Life goes on” may sound rather callous to one who is in the midst of turmoil, but the reality is that life is indeed for the living…

This morning a memory appeared on Facebook of a message that Pastor Vernon Jacob delivered a year ago titled:

Closure

Some of the key points included:

• Our souls are filled with holes… some things only God can fill.
• Time doesn’t heal, God does.
• God is not a monument but a movement (we need to keep moving forward).
• We have a spiritual destination but we hold on to an emotional space.
• Lean on what you do know, not what you do not know.
• Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning… Psalm 30:5
• I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten… Joel 2:25
• But as it is written, eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him... 1 Corinthians 2:9
• I will never leave thee nor forsake thee… Hebrews 13:5

Powerful and apt even a year later…

People often say “You only live once!” – But that’s not true… You only die once and everyday that you live is one day less that you have left.

Interestingly, as I pondered this, I was reminded of a brilliant tool that a dear friend of mine had recently launched called a True North Board. It is designed to act as a powerful reminder of Who were are and Why we exist, essentially all the things that make life worth living.

This amazing tool highlights four focus areas of our lives:

• Values: The guiding principles which help you decide what is right and wrong in life, and how to react in situations
• Relationships: Who are the people that have the greatest impact in our lives, the people who matter the most.
• Energisers: What is it that you are passionate about? The things that give you that extra energy and motivation.
• Mission: What legacy do you want to leave?

Waking up daily to the powerful reminders of all that we have to live for an look forward to, are a great way to stay encouraged and have a life worth living…

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future

Jeremiah 29:11

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.

Psalm 62:5

For more info on the True North board please visit www.stlegers.co.za