“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
James 1:2-4 NKJV
I’m not an epidemiologist, medical doctor, or “virus” expert, but my thoughts today are working through the concept of what it means to be an “expert”. I would suppose expertise status has to do with knowledge, training, experience, and endorsement. These are things we would all expect. However, I would also put one more quality in the list and that would be “tested”. To truly be considered an expert and one who could be called upon in a moment of crisis, that person should have passed some tests. Testing has value. It demonstrates some level of competency or usability. It also gives the beneficiaries a sense of confidence.
For example, we don’t let people drive a vehicle until they pass a couple of tests. We wouldn’t let a person do a surgery on us unless we were assured, they had passed a myriad of tests. We go to court with lawyers who passed bar exams. We build houses with contractors who passed regulatory tests. Real estate agents and brokers take tests. We want our pharmaceutical drugs tested for effectiveness and safety by a person who has passed tests to determine such things. A person cannot provide a guided tour in Charleston, SC, without having taken a history test the city provides for tour operators. Testing is a part of how the world works. To circumvent a test is to undermine one’s credibility.
I’ve been wondering if this pandemic time period is actually some sort of “test” that I (we?) need to pass. Cartoonist Charles Schultz once had Charlie Brown carefully building a sandcastle in the beach sand. Standing back to admire his work, he was soon engulfed in a downpour which leveled the castle. Standing before this smooth place where his artwork once stood, Charlie Brown said, “There must be a lesson here, but I don’t know what it is.” In much the same way, our nation was motoring along enjoying the economy of a generation and building our monetary castles when all of a sudden, this pandemic downpour hit us. How sad it would be to not only endure the losses of an economic setback, but to miss the deeper lessons that are at work. It’s a test that everyone, including me, is going to be graded.
What kind of tests might I be taking at this very moment?
I have identified at least FIVE that are being applied in my life currently…
1. The Nature of my Faith – What and Who do I really trust? Where are my allegiances? Will I be loyal when it costs me? What do really believe and will act upon?
2. The Strength of my Commitments – How much will I endure before compromising? How spiritually tough am I really? Am I committed to God no matter the environment I am placed in?
3. The Level of my Maturity – Will I maintain my integrity? Will I speak calm and peace in the midst of the storm? Will my emotions remain even and balanced as I navigate this crisis?
4. The Health of my Attitude – Am I really an optimist? Can I speak God’s promise when my circumstance challenges it? Can I find some positives every day and be grateful?
5. The Measure of my Teachability – Can I learn the lessons of this season? Will I see now what I couldn’t see earlier in my life? Will I make the changes that I need to make which this season revealed?
The answer to these questions will determine in no small part whether or not I pass God’s test and become credible in His eyes and the eyes of a watching world.
It’s time to go to the next level of expertise…
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