By Steve Gahagen

The Coronavirus has caused our way of life to hit a giant pause button. Life as we know it has come to a standstill. It’s our new and uncharted reality.

What will we do with this season of pause? How can we move forward when society is standing still?

We will be tempted to fill the space with TV binge-watching or video games. Those activities are not necessarily bad, but this could be a time for so much more. What we do with this pause could be a defining moment in our life or for our family.

The biblical principle of the Sabbath highlights the importance of pause and reflection. The Sabbath rest creates space to express our gratefulness and to focus on the bigger picture of life.

The COVID-19 Pause could present an opportunity to slow down and connect with others in ways we would have never done otherwise. It is important for us to remember that the way things are now are not the way things always have been. We are a 24/7 society. New York City prides itself on being the city that never sleeps. It is sleeping now.

The progression of our society has made this madness possible. The invention of electricity made it possible for people to function at all hours. The invention of central heating made it possible for families to disperse to their own rooms. The invention of radio, television, cell phones, and personal listening devices makes it quite possible to never unplug.

In music, a rest is a pause, a space not filled. Arrest (from the French arreter, meaning to stop) is a halting of the normal flow of events. Something arresting makes us stop and pay attention.

This could be a pivotal moment for you, your family, or business to rest. To pause, to stop, and pay attention.

Henry Nouwen writes, “Without solitude we will remain victims of our society.”

During this giant pause, what could you do to make it a positive defining moment in your life and for your family? How could you move forward while society is at a standstill?

Questions to Consider:

1. What are a few things you could do to make this season unique and positive?

2. How could your work team grow and create stronger connections during this time of pause and uncertainty?

3. How could you create space for greater reflection on the meaning of your life and work?