I am reminded of what is said to be an old Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times.” I will reach my 80th birthday in a few weeks, and I have lived through wars, school desegregation, women’s rights, economic turmoil, and, now, COVID.
One must have the right frame of mind and strength of character to get through such tumultuous events. Fortunately, we have the wisdom found in the Holy Bible and the writings of philosophers to give us comfort and strength.
Consider this text from Psalm 28:7, ”The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.”
And, James 1: 2-4 reads, "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
We also have the writings from the sages of old that can give us comfort. Consider this thought written by Friedrich Nietzsche, “He who has a why to live can bear almost any how.”
And, from Horace we have a well-known poem:
“Happy the man, and happy he alone,
he who can call today his own:
he who, secure within, can say,
Tomorrow do thy worst, for I have lived today.
Be fair or foul, or rain or shine
the joys I have possessed, in spite of fate, are mine.
Not Heaven itself, upon the past has power,
but what has been, has been, and I have had my hour.”
By God's grace, our Christian faith and personal strength of character will enable us to find our way through these tumultuous times.
