An extremely large event will shape the future. An event as major as a world pandemic will alter the course of history.
The Novel Coronavirus irus is apt to cause radical transformation in diverse areas of lifestyle and personal behaviour, business, politics, etc. While many aspects will settle back to normal, the changes will wash through many industries.
Large trends emerge. Great new opportunities are created. There is massive creative destruction whereby somethings that were well established before the event, are rapidly destroyed and replaced.
With the CCP Virus there will be BOTH BIG winners and losers. For many years to come we will be observing and noting big changes which will last well into the future.
Entrepreneurs and investors rise and fall based on their ability to forsee change and their talent to leverage it. Riding a big trend makes some people very successful.
The first place one starts is to identify that such an event is taking place. It is pretty easy to see that the CCP Virus qualifies perfectly.
The next step is to be anticipate the changes. One has to identify the ways the CCP virus, or what evervthe event is, will change the ways people will think and behave.
The last step is to translate that into specific opportunities. Be those stocks or a business move, or some other way in which one might position themselves or their business to benefit from the new ways people and organizations will spend their money and time in the future.
Some of the futurists will be authors who write about and document the change. Thinkers are buzzing.
For others, the effects will be far more personal. Like the choice to retire or whether to enter or exit a marriage, to have a baby, move, start a hobby or even to start reading and studying the bible.
People and businesses will be goal setting directly because of the CCP virus. Big decisions and life changes will be made. The CCP Virus is transforming the world, one human being at a time, all at the same time. The world will never be the same. You might say it is being born again
DESTRUCTION AND REBIRTH
🙏STAY CALM🙏
P.S. For those readers who may have expected me to offer a list of actual big winners & losers, I say this. I have started the list in my mind. I can discuss it. But I am not ready to publish it.
COVID-19 is throwing CERTAIN PLACES in the world back to the first two levels of Maslow's Hierarchy -- Basic Needs - otherwise known as Survival mode.
PREPARE FOR PRIMITIVE!
Over the coming weeks the number of cases will SKYROCKET! Deaths will go up too. We are at war with an "invisible enemy" and the casualties will be warlike.
In the USA the worst will be in NYC. (Though there may be other hot spots.) Anger towards Mayor Del Blasio will challenge his leadership and may threaten his ability to even be the mayor. I would not be surprised to see Governor Cuomo intervene in NYC through the use of the National Guard. (If you are Guardsman in NY State, there is an increasing chance of being called to duty. Ready your household to be without you in the wsys you were trsined to do so.)
THANK GOD WE LIVE IN AMERICA AND TRUMP IS PRESIDENT. OTHER COUNTIES ARE WAY WORSE.
Countries such as Italy, Spain, Iran and others are becoming overwhelmed. We may see pandemonium as their governments lose the abilty to cope with the fear, anger and unrest.
With mass hysteria normal society fails to function. Systems we take for granted start to collapse and fail.
Some country goverments may need to declare "Marshall Law" and turn to their military to control the general population. Expect edicts such curfews and rationing.
Because arresting the masses is not feasible, the military will need to use strong arm tactics. Visuals of this happening will be highly disturbing. Seeing one's own county's military used on it's own citizens will freak people out! This adds to the fear, anger and unrest.
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT MONEY IS RUNNING OUT AND BASIC NECESSITIES ARE LACKING!
"Desperate people do desperate things!"
The public in Europe will start to blame the European Union (E.U.) itself. The E.U. is operated by unelected bureaucrats.
Such people DO NOT have the stature or nature to lead Europe in times of crisis. They lack the credibility and authority to command respect. The very viability of the European Union is going to be called into question.
COVID-19 IS EXPOSING CONCEPTS SUCH A ONE-WORLD GOVERNMENT, SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM FOR THE EVIL SYSTEMS THAT THEY ARE.
WARNING: This is a viscious cycle that will bring down some leaders and elevate other leaders. The times ahead provide an opportunity, a calling even, for charismatic leaders to arise and rise rapidly.
REMEMBER NEVER AGAIN . . . IS NOW!
VERY VERY IMPORTANT >>>>>>
The media is going to play up the increase in cases causing some to panic. Scenes from Europe will be highly disturbing. As bad as that will be, what IS HAPPENING in communist China and Iran is worse.
State run media in China and Iran, also Russia, will try to block those images. They can not block them all. Images and messages by courageous individuals and cries for help will sneak out and expose their evil systems of government.
America needs most mainstream media, (e.g. NYT, Washington Post, CNN, MSN, etc.), to change their agenda and how they operate. Their business model thrives on fear and promiting resentment and distrust of the present Administration. That is hurting America at a time when we need solidarity and optimism. We need to win and that requires a winning attitude.
TURN OFF CHANNELS THAT FAIL TO DO THAT. If you must watch TV, watch the Hallmark Channel, a nature documentary or a comedy movie rather than CNN or MSN!
The World WILL defeat Covid-19. The more crucial battle is for the Soul of our Nation, and our own!
As individuals and families we need to hunker down for a while. Create a protective barrier for your physical health and spirit. Gaurd your loved ones. Check in on close friends so they know your care. Offer comfort and assistance if you can and do not feel ashamed if you need to ask for help!
Reset your priorities. Less is more. Maintain a sence of gratitude. Peace is found through gratitude. Read scriptures or find other positive influences and activities.
There is another side to the tragedy of Covid-19. We will get through this. There will be a rebirth, I promise.
COVID-19 is to the world a bit like cancer is to an individual family.
If you have ever been through a health crisis, such as a serious cancer, you may be noticing some similarities to being locked down for COVID-19.
With cancer, because of the effects of chemo one has to wash their hands and be far more careful about exposure to germs. There are periods of time when your shut in.
I remember when we went through Mary's cancer. The cancer was a curse but it was also a blessing in a strange sense too. Of course there is the fear of the unknown. Concerns about survival. Questions about the future. But there was a bright side. Always look at the bright side!
Human beings respond in certain basic ways to a crisis.
Some with fear, anger, hate and blame. Others positively resetting their lives and seeking constructive ways to use their time at home. Generally speaking, all & all, adversity changes us for the better.
The breast surgeon said to Mary and me that it was going to be a very long year and to take it a day at a time. Patience is key at times.
That was a long year. Much longer than the "lockdown" we have now with COVID-19. But I notice now some similar aspects to the psychology of coping.
Here is little lady Charlotte sanding with my son Alex who is making shelves. Alex is also a major gardener. Covid-19 has given him time to get ahead. Whereas I went the route of flowers and trees, Alex went the root of vegetables. (Pun intended if you caught my spelling mistake.)
I love what I see people doing in response to the virus crisis. I see people bonding every which way. Last night during a virtual Havdala service, I played "Rock, Scissors, Paper" with Rabbi Victor and friends from Temple Beth-El. Families are cooking a dinner together. Folks are doing household projects. Some are taking hikes. What a great time to go fishing or read poetry.
With cancer, even though we had loving support, we pretty much had to go through it ourselves. While our world turned upside down, everyone else's world was the same.
Whereas with Covid-19, the entire world is upside down together. We are in it together. We are being brought together.
With cancer and the chemo one can lose the taste of food, but gain an appreciation for the taste of life.
Laughter is good medicine. Laughter reduces pain, increases job performance, connects people emotionally, and improves the flow of oxygen to the heart and brain. It seems like God gave us laughter to heal our body. Why would God stop there?!
In today's terribly divided world we need laughter to heal our soul.
Look at all the problems we have between us over our differences. You must have noticed how mean spirited people are to those who disagree with them about President Trump.
Do you remember President Obama during the 2016 Correspondent's Dinner? His jokes about Trump were so mean. Personally, I believe that was THE precise moment when Donald Trump decided to run for President.
For three years comedians, Hollywood, news anchors, latenight and daytime TV hosts have been obsessed with mocking the President of the United States. They make fun of his hair, hands, weight, wife, children, intelligence ... every single thing about the leader of our country! It is shameful.
Aside from the fact that he is our President and 60+ million support him, there is a deeper problem as I see it.
To begin with, the constant mocking in the mainstream media has been engrained in the public's mind. Making jokes about President Trump has become part of American culture. It has gone well beyond just Trump.
When we go to extremes to mock others, as has become much too common, we misuse God's gift.
Here are some questions to ask ourselves to see if we are benefiting or misusing laughter:
Are we able to laugh at ourself? Or are we mostly making fun of others?
Do we see your own faults or do we only find them in others?
If others disagree with us, do we mock them or try to learn what they see?
I believe God gave us a laughter to help us cope with pain - to heal both our body and our soul. I opened this post with a little explanation of the physical health benefits of laughter.
Here is how laughter can heal our soul. When we laugh at ourselves we see our own faults. When we see our own faults it easier for us to repent.
Repentance saves the soul. God gave us laughter to save our soul.
"Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves for they will never cease to be amused."
One of most beloved songs in the Passover seder is "Dayenu" – meaning, “it would have been enough”.
Our life is filled with miracles, beginning with us - our life, our first breath. Miracles are all around us, beginning with every Sunrise and the songs of creation that nature signs to us every day.
Miracles are given to us, our health, our family & friends. God has given us so much. We are not worthy, but God provides more than enough.
Yet, we are often blinded to our abundance by fear and desire. We wait for miracles, when we have so many to rejoice for. If we didn't receive one more miracle we would still have enough. Dayenu!
Even in life's storms, our miracles are many. There is Light between the rain drops. There is peace within chaos.
Everyday, and especially this particular Passover and Easter, remember to never forget all the miracles in our lives. Do not miss the whole point of gratitude and grace. Do not miss the whole point of Life itself. To give all the Glory to God. Seek a reason to be grateful, a reason to say “Dayenu.”
I am going to challenge the way you think. More specifically, I am going to challenge the mainstream media's perspective on COVID-19.
Before I do I have to preface what I mean by the expression "the way you think."
I know how MOST of America thinks! Most Americans think like they are told to think. They think like their media sources tells them to think. They think like CNN, MSN. the NY Times, Washington Post OR, they think like FOX. They think like Democrats or Republicans.
People think like those who control the message want us to think.
In order to truly THINK for yourself you need to do much more than listen to the media or Hollywood. And sadly, even go to college! Do you think a Liberal College Professor teaching a gender studies class wants you to think? They do not! They want to fill your brain with how they want you to think! Then again, so does a accounting or physics professor. Both the Gender Studies professor and the Physics professor are teaching WHAT to think.
People don't have time to truly THINK for themselves! So they upload their thoughts from the mainstream media every day.
People turn on the TV like we go to the gas station. We pick our pump and filler up!
In order to THINK one must do three things:
1. Pray - One must begin with an honest desire for truth and a deeper understanding. One must formulate questions in their mind and call out to something greater than themselves for inspiration and guidance.
2. Contemplate - One must look thoughtfully for a long time at the situation and ponder the possibilities. One must be open, curious and receptive. One must explore, observe and be patient!
3. Expression - Thoughts must be processed. We need to formulate our thoughts. This requires the hand. That's right - One must perform their thoughts through acts of creation involving the interaction between our heart, mind and hand. We must write. It could be a letter or an article or blog post, or a song, a poem or painting. Possibly even a dance, though I'd suggest that dance is a better way to process emotions than thoughts. In order to process thought one needs to use their hands. Facebook posts are a shallow and inadequate substitute for the process that I believe is required to THINK.
I believe that a person who is not praying, contemplating and expressing, they aren't seriously "THINKING."
Discussing your thoughts can be an effective means of expression. Discussions typically fall quite short more often than not.
I have said enough about the challenges and shortcomings of "thinking" in America today. Now I want to challenge the way much of mainstream media is telling us what to think about Covid-19.
1. First, a fact:
~80% of deaths associated with COVID-19 have been adults aged ≥65 years with the highest percentage of severe outcomes among persons aged ≥85.
If someone who is 80+ years old dies from the virus is that considered a "premature" death?
If someone who is 85 years old dies from cancer, heart disease or influenza and pneumonia is that considered a premature death?
Murder is premature death. Being killed by a drunk driver is premature death. Suicide is premature death. Those ddeaths are the result of Man's actions. Viruses are a fact of life. They part of God's design. (If COVID-19 was engineered by the CCP, that is a case of mass murder!)
2. Suppose that over the next 12 months there are 10,000 deaths in the USA from Covid-19. Let's say that during the same period there is also a 100,000* increase in the number of babies attributed to Covid-19 and social distancing. Was there more death or life as a result of the virus?
*In a typical year there are approximately 3.8 million births. In 2016 the number of births hit a 30 year low.
3. The challenges America and the world faces as a result of Covid-19 are causing long and extremely needed changes in the public and private sectors, as well as in individual lives. Here are some examples:
New systems and capabilities for testing are being introduced. So are methods for managing and distributing medical care such as telemedicine and mobile testing.
Planners are evaluating our supply chain. There is greater appreciation of the need for stockpiling critical supplies.
America is reducing our dependence on China and elsewhere for drugs and other critical supplies. Many new jobs will be created in the USA.
People are considering their priorities in life and making more conscious choices about how to value and protect relations and what is meaningful to them.
People are using the time they have at home in constructive ways such as cleaning, organizing and doing projects.
Some people are deciding they want deepen their relationship to God and Yeshua.
America and other nations will be far more prepared to handle future health crisis.
There is incredible improvement in the cooperation taking place within government at all levels as well as between the government and the business sector. It is reminiscent of the WWII wartime spirit that enabled us to defeat the enemy and win the war. America emerged out of the Depression as well as WWII stronger and better. We began some of most prosperous years in our Nation's history.
So, if all these positive things and many other beneficial consequences come from Covid-19, are there more reasons to be pessimistic or hopeful?
There are different ways to look at the situation with Covid-19. It depends on how we choose to THINK about it. It depends on whether we do the THINKING or we let others tell us what to THINK.
