Recently I had a choice to make! Be mad! Be bitter! - Or - Be better! Rise above the situation!

It was Michelle Obama who said - “when they go low - I go high!” I’ve never forgotten that. She’s had plenty of opportunity to practice that in her life! I guess, I have too.

We all do.

Everyday we make decisions to take the high road or the low road.

Everyday I can be bitter that the virus has changed our lives - or not.

Everyday I can be angry with someone who has spoken unkindly - or not.

Everyday I can get ticked off at decisions that are made by others that affect how I live my life - or not.

If nothing else - this past year of Covid - 19 - of lockdowns - of shut downs - of stay at home orders - of no hugging allowed - of no visiting anybody except those who live in your house - of rules and regulations that have changed about how many can go to church - all these things and more have taught me that it’s been a fight to remain positive and optomistic and to rise up.

How did I do this?

I stopped reading and watching the news. I arranged to get my mom out of her Retirement Home to live with us. I walked thousands of kilometres. I FaceTimed and video chatted with grandkids and kids and siblings. I played trucks with my grandson - Jake - online - Jake in Ottawa and me in Kincardine. I played yahtzee with my sister - Brenda - every Thursday afternoon. I talked on my phone. I gardened.

But more than anything - I trusted in the One who promised to never leave me or forsake me. I’ve trusted in the promises of Scriptures like never before. It was Elizabeth Elliot who said - “At Bethlehem, Christ became God with us. At Calvary, Christ became God for us. At Pentecost, Christ became God in us.”!

The same Jesus who came into the world as a baby - the same Jesus who died on the cross - the same Jesus who breathed into the disciples at Pentecost - is with me today.

I texted.

Speaking of texts - it dawned on me just this morning that God was the first one to text. How often have we heard our pastors say - “our text this morning is……..!

The “text” I was thinking about today - was the one sent to Peter (the disciple). Peter and his friends were out on a boat on the sea of Galilee and a huge storm came up. A storm so great the disciples feared for their lives. These big - burly - disciples - some who had spent most of their lives on the water, fishing, were terrified - like a golden retriever during a thunderstorm. As these men sat quivering on the boat - they saw a figure (like a ghost) coming towards them - walking on the water. The figure speaks to them - and says - “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid!”

I wish I could have heard that voice. Peter did and he jumped out of the boat. He started to sink but Jesus again speaks and reminds Peter to keep his eyes fixed on the Lord and not on himself. And then….Peter walks on the water too. It would be so cool if that’s where the story ended. But it didn’t. The story goes on to say - that Peter took his eyes off Jesus and began to sink. That night, while walking on the water, Peter got distracted. He looked at his circumstances and felt afraid and the waves swept over him. But Jesus - immediately reached out His hand and caught him.

The only real security in the world - in the universe - is in this text from Jesus.

Take courage

It is I

Don’t be afraid

If I can’t find security in God - I won’t find it anywhere else.

Jamie George put it this way - “Jesus says to us - When you know Me, you have no reason to fear. I designed gravity. I control physics. I arranged the number of protons in the nucleus of every chemical compound. I have at my command every cycle, every weather pattern and every organism on the earth itself - in the universe - for that matter.”

So I have choice! We all do! Because our circumstances will be challenging at times. If it’s not Covid - it might be the death of a loved one - it might be the death of a marriage - it might be the loss of an occupation and financial security - it might be a break in a relationship with a friend or family member - it might be giving up a dream - it might be any of these things and so much more.

So…….

I choose to fight for the high road. I choose to fight for courage. I choose faith over fear.

I choose to be more patient with those who are hard to love.

I choose to be more tolerant and not so judgemental.

I choose to criticize less and encourage more.

I choose to love more deeply and hate less.

I choose to be kinder and not harsh.

I choose to give more than I receive.

I choose to be more open to those who have different opinions than me.

I choose to keep my eyes on the One who spoke to Peter.

Helen Keller said - it’s an inner civil war. Your mind says yes but your heart and feet say no. It’s always a choice though. Do the hard thing.

At the end of the day - go high.