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In the last few weeks, uncertainty about the coronavirus has caused me to consider the brevity of life. I’ve not been panicking but thinking a bit more seriously about what choices I am making to stay healthy and embrace life. How do I, as a senior citizen, respond to this threat? How does my faith in God affect this scenario?

Do I travel or not? What kind of precautions do I need to take? What does wisdom look like in this situation? What does it mean, in this situation, to live as Jesus said, loving God, loving myself, and loving others?

How do I live in the moment called “today”?

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 Yesterday has vanished
 Tomorrow’s not appeared
 The only thing I’m sure about
 Is the moment I call “today".
  
 It’s early in the morning
 The sun has not yet risen
 As I slowly waken
 I give thanks to God in heaven
  
 For the fact that I can breathe
 My mind is still alert
 I can stretch my arms and legs
 All my joints still work
  
 I think about my family
 I think about my friends
 I pray that God will bless them
 With health and success
  
 I think about my neighbors
 My nation and the world
 I pray that leaders everywhere
 Will seek wisdom from above
  
 The wisdom that is peaceable
 The wisdom that is just
 It is God’s will, I believe,
 That hostility would cease
  
 As I wash my eyes and face
 I give thanks for warm water
 And think about the project
 I’m making for my daughter
  
 How blessed I feel as I recall
 Memories of past years
 I pray my daughter will find joy
 By what she sees and hears
  
 I know I have a tendency 
 To do things in a hurry
 That’s when I get caught up
 In frustration and worry
  
  
 So I will take my time, today,
 Not give in to my desire
 To speedily compose a “song”
 In fear that I’ll expire!
  
 Age is not determined just
 By chronological years
 It’s related to the relationship
 We have with our Creator
  
 We are more than chemicals
 Influenced by genetics
 There is a spirit part of us
 Which can’t be detected or measured
  
 By CAT scans or standardized tests
 It’s invisible but strongly affects
 The way we think, the way we act,
 The way we feel, whether we heal
  
 Or whether we cave in
 To the opponents of life
 Whether they’re viruses
 Or vices; we all make choices
  
 To love or to fear,
 To embrace or retreat,
 To save others or just ourselves;
 By these choices we live or we die.
  
 Yesterday has vanished
 Tomorrow’s not appeared
 What choices will I make 
 In the moment that is HERE?
  
 Jane Ault
 3/6/2020 

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