A New Standard

By Willie Pinson, Minister of Inclusion

In the fall of 1992, I was a featured Psalmist at a World Leaders Christian Conference in Nassau Bahamas. On the final day of the conference, Hurricane Andrew made a grand entrance. I will never forget the sound of the waves crashing into the walls of the hotel. The sight of trees bending from the power of the wind, some uprooted and others snapped like pencils. With the power outage, I was stuck in a dark hotel room for 2 days. When I was finally able to get a flight to Fort Lauderdale FL, I as able to see miles of devastation caused by the hurricane as the plane was landing. It was so surreal.

When I arrived home in Atlanta GA, I was so happy to see my wife. I was so grateful for the Lord’s divine protection through the storm. I continued to pray for the people that were affected by the hurricane. As I began to study the effects of a hurricane, I found that there were 5 good things that come from a hurricane.

1.      Bring rainfall to areas that need it.

2.      Break up bacteria and red tide.

3.      Provide a global heat balance.

4.      Replenish Barrier Islands.

5.      Replenish inland plant life.

I also found out that the building codes in Florida were substantially overhauled. There was a new standard to rebuild that would make the area better than it was before the hurricane.

It was so refreshing to see that there was a positive side to such a devastating storm. I was so focused on the negative effects that I was not open to see there were positive effects. I had a new perspective and respect for hurricanes. You see, God allows storms to happen in our lives. Sometimes it seems like everything is being turned upside down, however His grace, mercy and peace are with us through the storm. He then brings us to a place where we accept His Standards that leads to life more abundant than before the storm.

2020 was deemed “The Year of Vision”. Who knew that it would pull back the covers and reveal so many things hidden beneath the surface? Earthquakes, Hurricanes, Pandemic, Racial Injustice, and a Politically divided nation just to name a few.

During the Christmas season, I have sung a Bass Recitative from Handel’s Messiah many times. The text is from Haggai 2:6-7and Malachi 3:1. However, I am going to expand Haggai 2: 6-9 (NKJV). “Thus says the Lord of Host: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and the dryland; and I will shake all nations and they shall come to the Desire of all nations, and I will fill this temple with glory’ says the Lord of Host. ‘The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine’ says the Lord of Host. ‘The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former’, says the Lord of Hosts. ‘And in this place, I will give peace,’ says the Lord of Host.”

The foundations of many of our nation’s systems are being shaken. Amidst the revelation of these tragedies that really require our combined efforts for unity, yet our nation remains so divided.

Words of wisdom are found in Ecclesiastes3:1-8 (NAS). “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven- A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. A time to love and a time to hate, A time for war and a time for peace.”

Solomon, known for his wisdom in the ability to make right choices, ponders the sovereignty of God and concludes that all events of life are divinely appointed. He also helps us understand that though we find ourselves in a season of unrest, our willingness to see both sides of a situation can help us make right choices. Choices to heal, build up, laugh, dance, gather, embrace, keep, speak, to love and pursue peace.

There is a hope, that somehow amidst the Pandemic and our racial / political divided nation, we will be able to set aside our differences, embrace the positive things we have in common and be open to make right choices that will allow healing. There is a hope that on the other side of this, a New Standard of equality will be raised leading us to a New Normal in our country. The latter house will be greater than the former and the peace of God will prevail throughout America.

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