Reflections (abandon)

During my college football days our team was not very good.  That puts it mildly.  But we tried.  We were trying to figure this stuff out.  I recall one of our team leaders encouraging us to "play with reckless abandon."  At the time it seemed crazy, but we took that attitude to heart.
Reckless abandon. 
Abandon in the noun form means; "complete lack of inhibition or restraint".  If your are going to be a great football team, especially defensively, playing with a complete lack of restraint is a good idea.
If.
If you know what you are doing.
If you always keep your assignments.
If you play within the framework of the whole team.
Otherwise, you recklessly mess everything up!
There is another slant on abandon.  In Acts 27 Paul is living through a serious storm and inevitable shipwreck.  The storm has been raging for several days with no sign of ceasing.  In times like that there is a grave danger.  It is summed up with the word from the NASB in Acts 27:20.
"Since neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small storm was assailing us, from then on all hope of our being saved was GRADUALLY ABANDONED."
That is a bad place to be in spirit and attitude.  You may go ahead and read the rest of the story and realize that in those discouraging moments God speaks and God acts.
But today I offer a word to encourage. 
In coronavirus we may be at a dangerous place.  Not the danger associated with the sickness.  Not the danger of  economic challenges.  Not the dangers associated with the virus.  We have a danger of losing hope.
When we settle in and begin to accept things as they are, we gradually abandon the firm conviction that there is a new and even better day before us.
When we get used to "bad news" and all the "what if" scenarios we gradually abandon the firm conviction that God is actively working in the middle of these days.
Let's take a pause.  Take stock of life.  You will notice some indicators that you are able to navigate this virus.  You are able to act wisely and protect yourself and your loved ones.  You are able to take appropriate steps to serve and interact with others. 
We are all able to step away from a "gradually abandoned" attitude and move into the "reckless abandon" of living by faith and grace.
To live with kind and good "abandon", know what you are doing.  Be well informed.
To live with kind and good "abandon", commit to doing your part and keeping your assignments.
To live with kind and good "abandon", live within the framework of the whole, and think of others.
You are in my prayers.
This is the day the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
steve