Our vocabulary is constantly changing, much like things that are currently trending or popular.  A whole new list of words and phrases have popped up this year with the onset of the CORONA19 virus.  Words that used to hold a totally different meaning are influencing how we think, act and feel.

THE NEW NORMAL – What exactly is that?  We haven’t seen normal for several months. Actually our routine lives have been edging on abnormal for some time now.   Who would’ve thought we’d be doing our shopping on line, covering our faces with masks and distancing ourselves from church, schools, events and other activities that involve other people?  Will we ever return to normal again?  I kind of dislike that term, because it indicates changes that will be difficult to handle as time goes on.

MANDATE:  A mandate used to mean an official order or commission to do something.  Today mandate could mean the same, but the way things are, it might be the opposite of woman date.  In our world anything goes.  In any case, it doesn’t sound good to me.

WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER – This term had a nice connotation in the beginning, but I’m beginning to wonder if it’s even close to being true.  We saw commercials of the rich and famous, in their fancy homes with all their needs provided, talking about how they sympathized with the general population.  Seriously?

SOCIAL DISTANCING – Is this the future of our country?  Will we all become germaphobes, paranoid about washing our hands, cleaning all surfaces, washing down everything that comes into our houses?  Will we hug standing six feet apart?   How do you do that anyway?

WOKE – This used to refer the end of sleeping.  Today it’s an acronym meaning Wisdom, Opportunity, Knowledge & empowerment. Those terms are admirable, but somehow they have made us all too sensitive to what other people think and say.  I’m not saying that injustices don’t continue in our world, but I feel we have somewhat overcompensated when it comes to taking offense at almost everything. (That should raise a few eyebrows from my liberal friends.)

There are many more new words and phrases that have crept into our vocabulary in the past few months.  Many are trying to erase 2020 from the calendar because of all the negativity, anger and hate that has risen from it, but maybe it’s time to start making some new memories.  Sure, it’s been horrible.  Yes it has caused people to become anxious and even suicidal.  I personally am exhausted.  We’re looking at each other in different and hopefully better ways.  We’re also having more time to get re-acquainted with family.  We’ve become innovative with spreading God’s Word through the internet.  We’re able to adapt to this “new normal” by learning new ways of doing things.

There are positives to this.  We must begin to look for them.  Things are going to get nasty in the next few months as a political campaign ramps up.  That’s a whole different can of worms.

Remember that God never changes.  He will bring order out of all the chaos we’re experiencing right now.  He has beckoned us to come to Him with our fears, anxieties, hopelessness.  He has promised to give us rest.  Pray!  Pray and pray again.  Our prayers are not in vain.  In the end, we know that God has already won the victory.