To see the video of Jack’s prayer, click here.
No doubt, many of you saw Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan’s social media post this week. With home spun wisdom Nolan Ryan asked everyone not to be a knucklehead. Wear masks. Social distance. Act wisely.
Undoubtedly, there are thousands of people, like me and you, who are as tired of hearing about the need to wear masks as we are experiencing the discomfort and inconvenience of wearing them.
Like you, I had hoped, with all the warnings of leaders, of healthcare professionals, and testimonies of those who have suffered or lost loved ones in the Pandemic, that the worst for America would be behind us. That our collective behavior would be guided in our collective wisdom. Our common humanity.
Tragically, we are now faced with ICU units at capacity. Soon choices may have to be made as to who might live and who might die. Who will receiving the care they need and the ventilators they need to breathe?
Set against this harsh reality, we have seen bars, clubs, and beaches overflowing with people standing shoulder to shoulder and most not wearing masks. America is not alone. This behavior of the masses of people acting oblivious to the risks to themselves and others has been repeated in countries around the globe including the beaches of England.
Where do we find the wisdom to act wisely at this time? The best source to find wisdom is in Scripture and in prayer.
Two Scriptural Quotations speak to me today.
The first is Proverbs 3:13, “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding.”
When we find wisdom, we are blessed. When we understand how our acts affect and infect others, we are then able to bless others by acting in accordance with that wisdom.
The second Scriptural Quotation is Proverbs 18:20, “Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.”
Besides thinking about Nolan Ryan’s advice, I think about the Biblical quote from Spiderman, “That with great power comes great responsibility.” Luke 12:48.
In that vein I say with great freedom in America comes great responsibility. Who are we as a free people responsible to and for?
God, in our daily prayers, please grant us Your wisdom in this time of Pandemic.
God, please show us how we can best use that wisdom for the good of Your Kingdom and for all Your children.
God, as Your child, Nolan Ryan, said this week, please help us not be knuckleheads. Amen.
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If you want to purchase for yourself or a friend a copy of Bending Angels: Living Messengers of God’s Love or Prayerful Passages: Asking God’s Help in Reconciliation, Separation or Divorce, please click on here to go to Amazon.
Jack H. Emmott is a Senior Counsel of Gray, Reed & McGraw, LLP, a 145-lawyer full-service firm in Houston, Dallas, and Waco, Texas, a Board-Certified Family Law and Master Credentialed Collaborative Law Professional Divorce Attorney, Mediator, Author, Entrepreneur and Inspirational Speaker. For more information about Jack or his latest book, Bending Angels: Living Messengers of God’s Love, go to the Bending Angel website.
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