In the Newsletter a little over a year ago I wrote about the Covid-19 news saturation we were all enduring, and here we find ourselves again inundated with what seems like an ongoing news onslaught, and a lockdown that appears to be unending. I am very thankful to you, our parents and caregivers who do the difficult things each and every day to enable your children to persevere with this unusual mode of learning. My admiration also goes to the BCC staff whose alacrity and poise in switching so professionally and yet with attentive care to remote teaching and learning so our students, your children, access valuable and meaningful learning opportunities while maintaining their contact, albeit via a screen, with their teachers and at times with each other.
I’m wondering if, like me, you are ready to hear better news, more life-giving announcements that affirm rather than undermine hope. If so, for your sake, and the sake of our children it might be time to switch off more often to be spared the daily dose of dread that seems to be on the news cycle menu. We don’t mind knowing what is going on, we often want to know, need to know. The news informs us what is happening in our communities, our countries, our world. We hear it, we watch it, we get updates on our devices. What I find interesting is that no matter where we get our information, we call it “the news.” “The news” like it’s the only news there is. And whether it’s the terrible situation in Afghanistan or Haiti, the plight of expats, the businesses suffering through lockdowns, friends and family separated, loved ones facing illness and even death, we should be buoyed by the promise of hope found in knowing that a sovereign, loving God is in control.
Just this morning I was reading a brief Insta post by musician Phil Wickham reflecting on the release of his song “Battle Belongs” almost a year ago. And I agree with him that “…this song carries more weight … now than ever.” He rightly suggests we need to remain “…beyond thankful that we sing to a God who is faithful, and able. We can cast our cares on Him because he cares for us.”
As you listen to the song allow your soul to rise above the news of Covid, isolation, and the many things that tend to spark fear. Allow God’s peace and presence, protection and provision to be felt and known. Wickham continues imploring us as we listen to “…lift up those who are hurting and displaced … that we might humbly turn from ourselves and seek the face of God. That even in His justice, God’s grace and mercy might also roll … like an unstoppable mighty river.”
For those who are followers of Jesus I pray increased faith and courage to run this race with endurance, and that we will be active in our encouragement of others to know the life-source of true hope. Even in our lockdown and lack, let’s not forget the far-reaching power of the gospel, the ‘good news’ that does not succumb to physical limitation, but which overcomes as Jesus said to his followers, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”