French news is reporting that a shipment of facial masks, ordered by and destined for France, was redirected to the USA after US representatives on the ground paid 3-4x the previously agreed upon price, in cash, for the shipment.
As this crisis goes forward, what we’ve seen already in the form of panic buying (“Whatever I can get, great… for the next guy, too bad”) we’ll likely see more and more: “Every man for himself” … or in this case… every country.
There will be exceptions, for sure (I hope and I’m confident), but it’s all one more reason to focus on…
Today’s #3GoodThings
- Technology: For all the times it makes you want to pull your hair out. Not only is technology facilitating our contact right now, it’s also allowed me to be in touch with students that the Lord has given me to spend the year with. To not only evaluate their work and to instruct, but to also (try to) be a calming voice of reassurance. People in general panic so easily (rightly so given the circumstances) and especially students who have less life experience and who certainly (for the most part) don’t have a walk with God to speak peace to their midst.
- Tomatoes: Look at the pic down below. If you’ll recall, I mentioned last week that low temperatures at night did a number on many plants in the hoop house. These are limmony tomatoes – they’ll produce bright yellow beefsteak tomatoes. As temperatures have warmed, the seedlings have all developed their first pair of true leaves… so this bodes well. Particularly as there is increased discussion of threats to the global food chain as the pandemic expands. (I can’t help but think of the ‘Victory Garden’ model that the US government encouraged all citizens to plant during the war – along with maintaining a small chicken flock – so that more funds could be directed to the war effort and less to food production & distribution… people were more self-sufficient in those days).
- Psalm 20.7: “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God“
I mentioned self-sufficiency… but really, none of us are. We are only sufficient in the Lord. I’ll do my best. I’ll plant seeds, I’ll water, I’ll weed… but only the Lord brings the increase and causes growth.
Such was the sentiment in Psalm 20. Biblical Israel’s trust in the Lord didn’t mean that they didn’t have an army. They did. They trained for war and prepared their weapons, but they were keenly aware that the battle was the Lord’s to determine. They knew that when they fought on his terms, following his direction… they would be successful. Victory and defeat squarely resided in his hand.
In these uncertain times, I’ll plant food, I’ll be cautious about spending, I’ll work remotely as I’m able, and I’ll seek to advance the LORD’s purposes in the meantime… but my survival, and that of my family, is in the Lord’s hands.
We’re in good hands, and for now… the tomatoes are growing.
While your other activities are limited, read about the antics of teenagers on/around the Moncton-Buctouche Railway in the early 1920s.
AIM Long 