Today, marriage has different definitions but according to the English Dictionary, "Marriage is the union of two or more people that creates a family tie and carries legal, social, and/or religious rights and responsibilities. In Nigeria, just as we have in other places, over 2 million couples say "I do" each year. Hope and expectations are high during and after the ceremony. Every couple anticipates living happily ever after. Tragically, the high rate of divorce and domestic violence between married couples are alarming. Studies show that highest percentage of divorce occurs within the first 7 years of marriage. These are the result of lack of preparation for marriage and failure to acquire skills and knowledge necessary for the advancement of relationships. We spend more resources on other area of our life while neglecting this important aspect of our lives. Especially the guy's while the female folks do seek resources for marriage sometimes.

 Most times couples pay far more attention to the wedding plans than making plans for the marriage itself- an event that will last for a life time. There is no need rushing into marriage with little or no preparation. Let's talk about what you need to know before marriage. Let's talk about friendship, compatibility, personality traits, common values, communication, emotional control, social interest, spiritual unity, intimacy, intellectual dialogue, etc. It would be of great importance if you are single, in a relationship or not currently involved in a dating relationship, as it would give you a more realistic idea of what needs to be considered before making a decision to get married. 

 FRIENDSHIP

  “I want a woman, I want a lover, I want a friend’ sang Jackie Wilson in a 1959 rhythm and blues classic, naming in simple terms the multiple relationships of husband and wife. As simple as this statement or desire is, it is one of the most success a man can acquire cause ‘he who finds a wife finds a good thing’. Although ‘I want a friend’ was the last thing he said but you’d agree with me that’s the first and most important stage to getting a lover and making her your wife. Friendship is and should be the first stage to actually getting in a more serious relationship, you’ll know why after reading the 5 stages of friendship I’m about to show you. 

  Most times when a guy asks a lady out  and her reply is ”Let’s just be friends”, this is could be heartbreaking for the guy, but he doesn’t know it’s actually a way of building a stronger foundation, so relax bro and enjoy the ‘friendship’ ride – but know that not all ‘friendships leads to a romantic relationship, some would end up being platonic. However it would be of great value to you if you know the 5 stages of friendship and the one you currently are in with your friend and/or ‘potential’ spouse.

  

  THE 5 STAGES OF FRIENDSHIP

1. Stranger (I Don’t Know You): This is the first stage of friendship; this is the part when you’re just meeting him. This stage you guys have no knowledge of each other and the birth and progression of friendship is dependent on this  stage.

2. Acquaintance (I Know of You): This is a progression of the ‘stranger’ stage as this time you guys have had interactions occasionally and you now have a general knowledge of him, his name, department or where she works. This is as a result of the occasional ‘hi’ and ‘bye’ encounter you guys have had – remember that stranger you met in the bar that approached you and had a little conversation with you, he was a stranger at first right, but now you he’s name is Vincent and he’s the CEO of VinccyREX World – so he’s now an acquaintance. Know that an associate or business partner can also fall in this stage.

3. Casual Friend (I Know You): In this stage you guys have had several interactions and thus know more about each other, the bonding factor is as a result of common interests and activities, you now  know of his achievements and she knows of your album. This is where you get to know that Vincent is also a poet and he loves cars, and he gets to know that you once were into ‘Dog walking’ cause you love dogs so much.

 This is where both persons praise and support the other formally, however there’s no emotional investment in the friendship yet, it is merely an introduction to the person ‘behind the mask’.

4. Close Friend (I Understand You): This is the stage where commitments comes in cause there’s now personal investments and emotional investments. Because of the level of investment close friends have, they’ve shared more information about themselves, knowing about families, other friends and intimate life.

  This is also the stage where you guys help each other accomplish life goals, therefore emotional attachment begins to grow as you guys connect to each other’s mind and spirit because of the experiences you both have had together. This is where you get to know Vincent at his best and worst moments and this is where choices are made, if you would stay regardless or skidoo after knowing ‘yours truly’ truly.

5. Intimate Friend (Connected Soul to Soul): This is the last and relatively the hardest stage of friendship, but trust me it’s also the most enjoyable cause you guys are connected soul to soul after so many shared experiences – good and bad, and also going through phases of vulnerability – which is the propeller of this friendship.

 At this level Vincent has shared his deepest secrets, which maybe fears and insecurities and also future desires, plans, aspirations and expectation with you and vice versa, thus you guys are committed to the development of each other’s character as people and thus can be regarded as ‘True friends’ cause you truly understand each other.  This is why Aristotle said “friendship is one soul occupying two bodies”. 

  It is at this stage a friendship (between the opposite sex) can move to the next level after going through all phrases successfully.

  So having explained these stages of friendship, you’d see that passing through all these stages essentially before going into an ‘actual’ relationship would save the both of you stress of having to know each other while dating – when you’ve supposed to be planning the future as a result of the knowledge of each other.

 When one dives into a romantic relationship without first grooming the friendship, there tends to be change in one of, or both persons involved cause the relationship wasn’t built on a strong foundation of ‘know, like, and trust’ factor, but only on impressing the other to get more points.

   Friendship opens the door to knowing each other for who they are, and there’s thus room for openness and ‘sincere’ expression in the ‘getting to know’ part, but if the ‘getting to know’ part is in-between the dating period, there are chances for hypocrisy, cause you guys are only knowing yourselves to see if he/she fits into your box and would most likely camouflage to fit in for the other person. So the importance of friendship cannot be overemphasized.

  So  to the brothers and sisters, next time you get the reply “let’s just be friends” don’t fret, it’s for the betterment of both of you and could be the start of something sweet and if not, you still have your friendship to enjoy – see, nothing to lose.

  And that’s it for this week, remember that ‘Knowledge is only potential power until it is organized into practical plans of action and directed into a definite goal’, so knowing this is not enough but doing it essentially is what matters, so ‘do something productive with your knowledge’.

                                                                                                                                                  

Orji David X Sheriff Suleman

 If you've learnt from this post, we’d be very grateful if you’d help it spread by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Twitter or Facebook, trust me you would be saving someone from 'stress'.

What do find interesting or rather confusing? What would you like us to talk more on? What do you not agree with totally? Do you think there's more to it?

 Let us know in the comment below.

You can also read inspiring posts like this by visiting; https://vinccyrex.blogspot.com - it's a blog site that belongs to the co-author of this series, Sheriff Suleman

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Sequel to my previous post "don't jump the gun" I'm going to share with you a series of steps, or guidelines, for accomplishing success in a biblically primarily based and Christian framework. These steps or principles were pioneered by Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong on what he called the “Seven Laws of Success”. And these principles are outlined below;

1. Law of  Setting the Right Goal

To accomplish anything of value, successful people set goals. You can never arrive at a destination when you don't know where you are going. Pray and ask God to guide you (Matt 7:7-8). No matter what our ambitions or goals are, we must always pursue them in the context of the right ultimate goal. Jesus made us to understand that all the necessities of life, about which we humans so often worry, are secondary to the most important goal of all and that is the reason He said "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Don’t jump the gun! We must set goals in order to be successful and to be a true success (both in this life and for eternity) we need to set the right goal.

2. Law of Educating (or Preparing) ones self;

Process, knowledge and preparation are great tools for becoming successful. We need to increase our knowledge just to keep up with our goals and the knowledge you acquired must be true knowledge - not false education. True knowledge begins with an awe and reverence towards God, and an acknowledgment that He is the source of wisdom and knowledge. Proverbs 1:7 says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction”. Prepare and equip yourself to achieve your goals, both physically and spiritually.

3. The Law of Maintaining Good Health;

You need energy and vigor for your work. These are essential and the driving force for your work. Our environment and immediate surroundings may be detrimental to our health. We have air, water and food pollution as a result of our environmental activities. It becomes difficult to obtain genuinely organic food and pure drinking water for our consumption and our families too. Our fast food, high fat, and high sugar diet is not necessarily the steady diet God intended for humans.

Regular exercise, in addition to a good diet is very important. Apostle Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:8 that “bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come”. The laws of health involve maintaining a positive and tranquil mind (peace of mind), and avoiding accidents. We produce more effectively and efficiently when we have good physical fitness and health.

We also need to understand our limitations, and do the best we can within them. And no matter what our physical limitations are, know that God will surely provide ways in which we can serve Him, and serve our neighbors, more effectively.

4. The Law of Driving one's self;

Mr. Herbert Armstrong called this an “all-important law.” He wrote said “You will always find that the executive head of any growing, successful organization employs drive. He puts a constant prod on himself. He not only drives himself, he drives those under him, else they might lag, let down and stagnate” (The Seven Laws of Success, 1974, p. 40).

Most times, we may have to put a prod on ourselves inorder to move. The book of Proverbs 6:6–11 says "Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, overseer or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep; so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man”. I must admit that it is very vital that we observe Proper rest, but God warns against being slothful and lazy. We see the ant moving a small grain of food or grain of sand consistently at a time, and accomplishes much over a long period of time. All we need is energy, discipline and purpose to work effectively.

5. The Law of Applying Resourcefulness;

Mr. Armstrong called this “the emergency law.”  What will you do when the road ahead to your planned career or goal looks blurry or rough?  When life meets you with unexpected obstacles or you suddenly face a financial problem, or health emergency, What are you going to do?

Always make plan for alternatives and options. Ask yourself what resources are available? What agencies or individuals might be of help? Of course, we know that the first step to take in any serious emergency is to ask for God’s help. We read in Matthew 14:29–30 that When Peter was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, ‘Lord, save me!’”. It is common to overlook the obvious when we are in trouble. Ask God to deliver you from your predicament. Ensure to do your own part and search out all the resources available to you. Never just give up. Ask for wise counsel. Proverbs 15:22 says “Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the multitude of counselors they are established”. 

6. The Law of Perseverance Towards one's Goals;

The place of constant perseverance can not be be over emphasised. Stick to the course. The Britain Prime Minister, Winston Churchill on October 29, 1941 at Harrow School said "never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never - in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense". Never yield to the forces and the overwhelming might of the enemy.

The book of Hebrews 11 and 12 are “faith chapters”. It mentions successful men and women of faith. And encourages us to remember their example, looking forward to the final goal. Run the race with endurance, or patience (perseverance). Never never give up! Run the race of life with perseverance.

7. The Law of Seeking God’s Continual Guidance;

The seventh Law is the foundation of the first six laws. You need to seek God’s continual guidance. So one may be carnally practicing the first six laws, but unless they seek God’s continual guidance, their efforts are but vanity - an exercise in futility. How can I have God’s continual guidance? The answer is found in seeking Him. Isaiah 55:6–7 says “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon”.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:33: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” The right goal of any successful man or woman is the Kingdom of God, I reckon.

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Success Steps

We all want to be successful and fulfilled in life. In fact, many would do almost anything in a bid to become successful in life. They want success at all costs. There are people who consider themselves failures, and constantly feel like giving up as they are convinced that they can never be successful. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch – just because your horse is in the lead now, doesn’t mean he will be by the end of the race. There is such a thing as "godly success". 

Our society has a wrong definition of success and fulfillment in life. Many have equated success in life with riches and wealth. Some look for success in status, power and position. In Luke 12:15, Jesus said that a man's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. This therefore means that material possessions have nothing to do with being successful (although one can hardly separate material wealth and success, but still, it is not the substance or measure of a successful life). We remember the story of the mother of James and John (Jesus’ disciples) who came to Jesus with a request: “She said to Him, ‘Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.’ But Jesus answered and said, ‘You do not know what you ask’” (Matthew 20:21–22). Here, Jesus shared an indispensable key to true success. He said "Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave" (Matthew 20:25–28).  A true servant is the greatest - the one who truly cares for and helps others. So you see, a successful life is one that has helped others give meaning to their lives. It is wrapped up in these three words; service, sacrifice and love. And are the measures of true success irrespective of the position you occupy.

God wants us to learn godly values and true knowledge (the knowledge of God and His Word). You know, unless we practice genuine humility, then the material knowledge we'd gained may lead to intellectual vanity. That is a feeling of superiority and even arrogance. Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 8:1 called it "Knowledge puffs up" (to bear themselves loftily and be proud).

Success begins with God, our maker. It is necessary that we understand this point. Don’t jump the gun! Follow the due processes or steps. You cannot help others acquire life if you don't have life yourself. You must be linked with the source of life. You can do this by becoming born-again. Then you sure will have to follow His directions for your life according to "the blueprint". Dr Ekhator Elijah once said that God has a blueprint for every life - no one is empty. Every one of us is packaged specially to accomplish something on earth. The knowledge and application of God’s Word in your life will train and refine you. It will change your mindset, and then you'll realize that no one has ever been successful by showing how small or unfulfilled others are. It will help you not to compete unnecessarily and ensures that you are not perturbed by other people's success. You become content with who God has made you become. It is actually the realization and acknowledgement that you've satisfied your maker that brings fulfillment in life.

True success comes at a price, don't jump the gun! It may not be the kind of price you'd expected and it may not come the easy way but it is guaranteed to be the only way to real success!

You can achieve success. Yes you! Don't jump the gun! It is not by our ability but through the power of the Holy Ghost, we can live truly happy, productive and successful lives, and also helping others into the family of God (the Kingdom of God). Apostle Paul stated in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” True success comes only through Jesus - the Savior of the world.

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"Two are better than one, because they have a good [more satisfying] reward for their labor; For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!" Ecclesiastes 4:9 - 10.

While Friendship can pose danger threats, as some say, friends is like a green snake on the green grass; can give bad advice, double-cross us, hurt us, and even lead us away from the Lord. Friendship are also valuable as they can give love and support, encouragements, specific help, and even criticism that will helps us grow in Character and other areas of our lives. 

Reaching the zenith of your career, personal life, etc, might be a difficult one or an easy stroll depending on the people you meet in life and are friends.  Relationship has a major role to play in our achieving purpose in life. We could look back into our life in retrospect and discover how much impact or failure friendship could be. 

We could see the value of friendship between Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1:16-18). Friendship that is  not easy to give up even at the end of their life. Friendship that remains even in obstacles and difficult times, friendship with united principles and understanding, friendship that is not idealistic but realistic to both parties.

Another example of good and strong relationship can be found in Jonathan and David (1 Samuel 20:41-41). They were committed with their friendship. And because of their commitment to each other only death can separate them. 

Les Brown said, “There are two types of relationship; Nurturnal relationship and toxic relationship. Nurturnal relationship nurses you, helps you, challenges you, brings the best out of you, holds you accountable, and it keeps you focused. While toxic relationship drains you” Whatever you become is as a result of the relationship you are into. Who do you move with? Who is your best friend? Whose advice do you respect the most? That friend in your life according to Fela Durotoye does one of these things: Adds to you, Takes away from you, Multiplies you or Divides you into pieces.

Most people today, especially young men and women don't care about the kind of people they move with and the kind of impact these people have over their lives. They move with the wrong set of people, listen to the wrong set of people and still expect their lives to be in any way better than before? Scripture says "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17). When you give your attention and ear time to the word of God, faith in the word of God is born. When you give your attention and ear time to the word of man, faith in the word of man is born. Our eyes and ears are the gate way to our heart. What we hear often, goes into our heart and develops inside of us and therefore forms our outside and circumstances. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he, the Bible says (Proverbs 23:7). 

One could have a great and promising future but the kinds of relationships and friends they keep could destroy their wonderful dreams and aspirations. Great men and mere men are made by the kind of friends they keep. Fela Durotoye once said, “Show me your friend and I will tell you where you are going” He reiterated that your friends are the reflection of your future. What you will become in life can be determined by the kinds of friends you move with. Apostle Joshua Selman said "if your life is not uncommon to drive certain kinds of people in your life, it simply means that you don't have values and principles".

“It is better to live with a wise enemy than a foolish friend“.

Friendship is a choice. You can’t blame anybody for the kind of friends you have. It is your choice! There are few aspects of our life that we may not be able to make choices - you can’t determine the kind of family you're born into, but the friends in your life are your choice. Every one may not like you. What you need is the right people that God had sent to help you fulfill his purposes for your life. 

There are three kinds of people or relationships you may meet in life according to their motives:

• Those who genuinely love you: You're the object of their attraction or passion and not necessarily your possessions. Their commitment to you is not because you are rich, or you are in a position of authority but to you as a person, not your skills or gifts. It is difficult to find men in this category, it may be your spouse. Job was the wealthiest man on earth but the only person that stood by him was the wife even though she communicated her frustration. This type of commitment can be seen in David and Jonathan, Ruth and Naomi. Do you have friends that can fast and pray for your success? Don't sit and wait for friends like that, you can also be same for someone - a loving friend. 
• Those who love what you have, where you're going or what you represent and not your person. Their commitment is to your vision, gifts and not to you. They are deceptive because they appear as number 1 people above but the difference is their motives. They are dangerous because they love what what you do and hope that there partnership would benefit them. About 90% of people fall under this category. There attraction is to a thing and not the person. If the person eventually fails or wouldn't benefit them again, they leave in a hurry as soon as they found better ways. 
• Those who do not love you nor what you represent but will partner with you against their bigger enemy. The Scribes and the Pharisees never agreed on many grounds but they came together as a team to crucify Jesus. They hated Barnabas before Jesus came but demanded his release and the crucifixion of Jesus. 

Finally, be loyal to your future than to your past. I have a friendship assessment Homework for you, this is it - sit down and make a list of the friends in your life and indicate if these people have been an addition, a subtraction, a multiplication or a division in your life. Does that relationship make you grow spiritually, financially, mentally and intellectually? Do these people challenge you and daily bring the best out of you or do they drain you and you see your self-worth vanish as the day goes by? Some friends are a blessing while some are curses. You need to decide for yourself either the relationship is a productive one or an unproductive one and cut yourself from the unproductive ones for the sake of your future.

“Look at the people in your life and ask this question, ‘What is this relationship doing to me?” Jim Rohn 

Friendship is your Choice! Never blame anybody for bringing out the worst in you. 

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Have you ever watched a relay race? Athletes run a pre-set distance carrying a baton before passing it onto the next runner. The process is repeated twice more in the race, as each man surrenders the baton to the next. Any miscalculation or hesitation at one point can cost the race. The Oxford dictionary on laxicon defined Baton as a short stick or tube passed from runner to runner in a relay race.

The graces that God released over time do not leave the earth. When a man gives birth to a son, the son picks up his name and then we say that the son is carrying on for  the man. He becomes the father of the House when the man dies. In the Bible, Abraham started his race and handed over the Baton to his son Isaac, who then passed it on to Jacob who handed over to his twelve sons - the twelve tribes of Israel. Elijah didn't exist the earth without passing the Baton to Elisha.

This present generation seems to have lost the Baton handed over to them. When we look around our society today, we could see that teenage pregnancy is on the rise, depression and suicide especially among young people had tripled, young girls commit abortion every day in this country, the Church has been taken for a joke, the younger generation picks up value systems from the world around them while rejecting Biblical Truth, sex and violence are being glorified, a generation that mocks Biblical morality and laughs at drunkenness and rudeness, the reported cases of sexually transmitted diseases especially among young people is alarming and so we worry and fear. 

There is so much fear in our generation today. Christians, families, teachers, doctors, pastors, students, etc have begun fearing and feeling that we’re losing the race. The fear that good morals, values, faith, gifts, etc wouldn't be passed on to the next generation. Who will take over the great men and women in ministry, business, politics, education etc when they are long gone? Men who changed the face of the earth - Benson Idahosa in 1960s and 70s, William F. Kumuyi, Kathryn Kuhlman, John G. Lake, Benny Hinn, the list goes on and on.

The word of God is the way (model) to pass the Baton to this generation. The book of Deuteronomy, the sixth chapter, and verses 4-7 says;

 "Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your sons (and daughters) and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up" (Deuteronomy 6:4-7, NASB)".

Consistency and persistent is the key. If these great men and women were not persistent, they would not have been able to pass the Baton to this present generation. If this present generation fails to pick-up the Baton left for them by their Fathers, then it could be worse for the next generation because nothing would be handed over to the next generation, I reckon. 

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“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16 ESV.

Over the years, I have come to realize that the greatest trap in our life is not success, popularity, or power, but self-rejection. Success, popularity, and power can indeed present a great temptation, but their seductive quality often comes from the way they are part of the much larger temptation to self-rejection. When we have come to believe in the voices that call us worthless and unlovable, then success, popularity, and power are easily perceived as attractive solutions. The real trap, however, is self-rejection. As soon as someone accuses me or criticizes me, as soon as I am rejected, left alone, or abandoned, I find myself thinking, "Well, that proves once again that I am a nobody." ... [My dark side says,] I am no good... I deserve to be pushed aside, forgotten, rejected, and abandoned. Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the "Beloved." Being the Beloved constitutes the core truth of our existence. 

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is" 1 John 3:1-2 ESV. 

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In the past few months, the global community has been affected greatly by the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic and we've seen their response to this effect in different ways. It is undeniable that the varying spheres of our social, political, or economical lives has been significantly disrupted. It is however, impinging into our spiritual territory. 

A lot of us are living in fear sponsored by the outbreak of Coronavirus, while others are confused or stranded by the situation. Some are shattered, lazy, hopeless, jobless, engaging in funny activities just to maintain sanity etc. For some, it's has been a worthwhile experience full of gold mining of knowledge, skill acquisition, self development and growth. People who belong to the second category has potential to outlive the period of the pandemic better. Covid-19 had reflected so much on our weaknesses and strengths. Nations and its inhabitants are humbled and had drawn closer to God whereas laziness had eaten deep the souls of others who no longer have time for God in prayers, in study and in meditation of scriptures.

Churches and mosques throughout the world experienced lockdown as result of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic. Although few are reopening gradually. The government had earlier placed restrictions on travels, tours, social gatherings, public functions, and people were advised to follow basic hygiene rules, not to visit others or to maintain social distancing when they meet. Notwithstanding, Believers has never ceased to continue in prayers. Getting through these difficult times requires a lot of spiritual import. Amid this situation, Christians are encouraged to take charge of the situation through prayers, and use the liturgy and prayer resources provided. While holding God's word  in high esteem. 

Praying in faith from our different locations at home, will bring in a faithful realisation that all can have access to God through Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:18), and that all have the priestly responsibility of interceding for other people to God (1 Peter 2:9, 1 Timothy 2:1-4).

We're coming to the understanding that, in contrast to fellowships in physical Church buildings, people praying together in their homes is also the real Church (Body of Christ) in a spiritual sense. The church is not the physical monument. You're the church. There is a reassurance that God’s presence in line with Jesus's statement in Matthew 18:20 AMP "For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I Am in the midst of them". We're faced with the divine responsibility to handled that with faith. Indeed COVID-19 steers us up and rekindles our faith to see God’s intervention in overpowering it's disastrous effect  (Psalm 91).

From a spiritual angle, I feel that the pros will outweigh the cons making us a global community with spiritual connectivity. In a way, COVID-19 is also a battle for our souls, a spiritual battle we will win, I reckon.

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