Christian Followership

If there is anything the pandemic of 2020-2021 has taught us it’s that we are not in control. Who could have predicted the events of 2020-2021? A virus taking over so much of the world and our lives. The world was upended, changed, and transformed. 2020 was a unique year. A year of fear and isolation. Of physical and emotional trauma. Of protests and furloughs. Of losses of life and of jobs and of hope.Covid 19 hit the world in a unique way. The pandemic challenged the world. It has been the most unusual year of challenge for us all. We were in our homes, where for many of us, each day seems more similar to the last than different. Some in the public health field have said this is the most significant crisis the world has faced since World War II.It is one of those rare times in history where everything seems to stop for a moment. Where time stands still. Where we know we will look back someday and ask, 'where were you when the Covid-19 pandemic hit?' Much like those in the past asked similar questions about where they were on 9/11, or when the Challenger blew up or when JFK was shot. Where was I? What does it mean?  Most American, and many global, schools shut in March 2020. Businesses, churches, enterprises, restaurants, gyms, closed to in person activities.It felt like the whole world has gone on a retreat. Reflecting inwardly in relative isolation. How will the world emerge from it? Will we be different or the same?Even as we begin to contemplate a post-pandemic world, we must be humble and realize that because we are not in control, we may take one step forward and one step back as we move towards the post-pandemic world. 'Normalcy' may take a while yet. This has been a time of great tragedy. So many of us have lost someone, or been ill ourselves, or feel the emotional, spiritual, or mental scares of this time. We may have lost a job, or seen our plans change. Many have watched school end prematurely or graduation ceremonies altered. Some of us has seen dreams seemingly die. It has led an increased number of us to pray. We are praying for God’s help. For safety. For healing. For job leads. For our politics. For hope. We are praying to God. Yet whatever we are praying for, this can be the beginning work for us of a concept called discipleship. The pandemic reminds us that we were never in control. Discipleship is about us learning we are not in control, and, therefore, to become comfortable following. God is in control. We follow Jesus. That realization makes all the difference.Discipleship is the practice being out of control. Of acknowledging and giving control to God. Of following, learning, and growing. Of learning lessons of receiving grace, accepting what we cannot change, and putting our hope and trust in something more secure, permanent, and unwavering than the things of this world. The work of discipleship can be the work of this time. It can be what helps us as we emerge from the pandemic.Discipleship means we become a learner. A disciple is a learner. Discipleship means to learn to become more like Jesus and to follow him. It is my prayer that we will seek to learn to become his disciples.