An Unexpected Beautiful

"Isn't it such a beautiful day?" I found myself thinking as I stared out the window of my apartment in Queens, New York, just 2 miles away from Manhattan. Last week, it was 70º and an otherwise normal-looking day. I saw children playing basketball, runners testing their endurance, and the sun shining powerful, golden rays that could pierce even the deepest indifference. The clouds' graceful bliss might trick you into believing that life was actually normal—but it wasn't.

Many of us already know that life has managed to escape nearly all normalcy over the past week. It was just a week ago that I watched in horror as warmups ended early in an NBA game between the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder due to a positive COVID-19 test.

When would basketball reconvene? How would my routines change because of this unthinkable disaster?

The crowds in Times Square and the flocks of commuters upon the 7 line last week reminded me that for many, life had to go on. Rent had to be paid, money squared away, and food put on the table. That's why when everything as we knew it came crashing down in just a week, many Americans were in a tough spot.

How much control do we actually have? When would life return to normal?

For many, life will not ever be the same when COVID-19 is finally neutralized. For many, life hasn't really been paused—they are fighting a battle to provide for their families and sustain themselves. But for all of us, a potentially worse fate could befall us—that we fail to learn what this viral shutdown could teach us.

In the face of adversity, here are two important lessons I think we all can learn from the COVID-19 shutdown.

1. Life is Fleeting

Due to the coronavirus shutdown, many people have saved time from long office meetings, commuting, and extra-curricular cuts. In this time of massive stress, the perfect solution is spending more time with Jesus.

I don't think there is a person out there that will claim they have figured out the Gordian Knot that is eternal life. Sometimes, though, I would argue that I act like I have. And maybe you see a similar pattern in your life, too.

What do I mean by that? Sometimes, I live very frivolously. Instead of working on growing spiritually, physically, intellectually, or even financially, I act on impulse and choose to waste my time scrolling through my phone instead of partaking in meaningful activities. On the flip-side of this, during the workweek, I usually neglect my health because I value finishing projects over sleeping. I prioritize watching television over reading my Bible.

All of these errors on my behalf mean that at times, I don't value growing in my relationship with Christ above other things. If life was to end tomorrow, am I really prepared to meet Jesus face to face? Would He ask me if I was satisfied with the ending of Love is Blind, or if I thought that Mark Cuban really should've invested in that company? No—in all likelihood Jesus cares about my interests but cares far more about my inner-most desires. It's not that I can't watch those shows or take up hobbies—but if ultimately that is all I've done, what can I stand on?

Could you say that you tried to love others like Jesus did? Could you say that a conversation with God is more valuable to you than retweets on Twitter or than a follow from a celebrity on Instagram?  Our time on earth is limited. Do not spend it scrolling through Twitter. What is your number one excuse for missing time with Jesus?

Even for those working on the front-lines (and whom we appreciate greatly), the reminder that life is fleeting is an obvious one. There is no promise that we live to see the dawn of tomorrow, so we must live each day as if it could be our last.

2. God is Immutable

I don't know about you, but sometimes I struggle with pride. It's all too easy to congratulate myself on an assignment that received a good grade or for feedback that was flattering. And in those moments, I sometimes forget just how fallible I really am.

It is very easy to ask God in times like these: How could you let all of these innocent people die? This question might be easy to answer, but even if it is, the answer is likely difficult to be comfortable with. Why? If you are anything like me, it's because the unknown is intimidating.

At first glance, one thing is obvious: we are not only fallible but fairly weak. It doesn't take much to throw off our immune systems or to bring an end to life as we know it. In fact, it takes only a small, microscopic virus.

In this scenario, though, I would argue that we know something else far more valuable. We know that God is immutable and doesn't change, even when the world around us morphs rapidly.

I would argue that this fact is actually quite beautiful because it reveals that no matter what, we can lean on a God who will always be there and will never fold, even when our entire society is thrown into hiding. I don't know if there is anything more beautiful, more good, or more promising out there.

It's an unexpected beautiful. However, you might have to force yourself to reflect on it, to find it, and to revel in the Truth that it represents.

But think about it... there is nothing that can send God into hiding, even if every person in the world was held indoors. There is nothing that could harm our God, even if infirmary knocks us down. There is nothing that can take away the eternal joy that comes from Him. We know that He will show up. It is just a matter of when.

The next time I have the privilege to attend class in the Financial District, I will force myself to remember that the beauty in this world lies not in the economy we have established or the hours we will work. The next time I ride the Lexington Avenue lines, I will remind myself that our strength lies not in the infrastructure we build. The next time that I walk into my school building in the South Bronx, I will remember that goodness lies not in the lessons I teach each day.

After this coronavirus is subdued, I want to remember that the most beautiful thing is not the arching crescent of the moon at midnight, nor even the reflection of the sun on the Atlantic Ocean. The most beautiful thing in life is the message that our lives are imperfect, because it highlights just how great and unfathomable God is.

If that's not a message that will inspire you, I don't know if anything worth fighting for will.