Justin March leads the Bethany Lutheran Church Men’s Ministry and sends a weekly email message to the Men’s group every week.  Justin has generously permitted us to post his weekly reflections here.  

These past few weeks I have found myself reflecting on this very question. After deep cleaning our home, spending lots of time in the yard, and watching countless hours of Netflix, my mind starts to drift, and I begin to ponder what do I want to do next?

For me, the answers could be quite simple. I am anxious to go to a concert, I am ready to dine out, I am hungry to attend church, and I dream of taking vacation.  I am ready to be around my friends, do something exciting, and celebrate in the streets. But when I think about what I want to do next, it becomes apparent that this time of isolation has taught me something valuable.

What I need to do next is already here. When I think about how this quarantine has changed the way I spend my days, it becomes apparent God had a plan. He knew I needed to slow down. He knew I would benefit from spending more time with my family, more time in his creation, and more time in his word. He knew that my journey had become stale, and I was comfortable with the life I was living. And he knew that for me to progress and become stronger in my Christian walk, my world needed to pause so I could see how my faith could get me through the upset conditions.

I now understand that “what’s next” needs to be “what now?” I need to understand where I am, on my journey with Jesus, and contemplate what I can be doing today to take that next step. I need to confide in him, listen to him, and pursue his mission for me. I need to love others, spend time with them, and understand their needs. And I need to trust in Jesus, follow his lead, and become the disciple he needs me to be. All of this is what I need to be doing now, not next.

We don’t know how long it will take to find a cure for COVID-19. We don’t know when it will be safe to come out of our homes. And we don’t know when our world will bring back the lifestyles we are accustomed to. So, we fall into the trap of barraging our thoughts with what comes next. We think about all the things we could be doing. We fantasize about that next grand adventure. And we spend our time watching the news in hope of someone announcing that magical date when all of this will end.

Instead of asking yourself “what’s next” try to ask “what now?” Get lost in the pages of your Bible. Research organizations that need your help. Reach out to a friend or family member and see how they are doing. Or, simply get outside and relish in God’s beautiful creation. We have been given the extra time to slow down and pay attention to how God is working through our lives. We can either choose to wallow in the redundancy of these isolated times, or we can choose to rejoice and strengthen our walk with Jesus.

Now that I am thinking about “what now”, instead of “what’s next”, I see how wonderful God’s presence truly is. The time to reflect, be patient, and relax, will drive a new energy and help me become a stronger disciple for him. And the way we handle “what now” will shape us to be ready for “what’s next!”