Wash your hands, don’t touch, close the business, close the school, wear a mask, cancel the game and do whatever is necessary to prevent the spread of the coronavirus(COVID-19). What happens at present is that people travel less, sports events are called off or played before empty stadiums, stock exchanges tumble, etc. which will probably have a huge negative influence on the world economy.
Businesses at risk
Someone on CNN mentioned that
the coronavirus may perhaps kill more businesses than people.
Therefore the following piece of advice from a friend of mine on Facebook, is perhaps what we all need to do during these extraordinary times. “Lots of small businesses will go out of business due to this viral outbreak. They will not survive weeks of little or zero cash flow. If you can do just one thing today, shop local and buy something from a small business. Make that effort.”
Closer to home
At first the threat of the coronavirus was far off, in countries like China, Italy, etc. Now we are confronted with the reality of the coronavirus in our own backyard. Here in Wellington, South Africa where I stay, the international Cape Epic Mountain Bike Event would have stayed over for three nights, but was cancelled only two days before the start. The effect on guest houses, restaurants and many more is a huge blow for a small town like ours.
Furthermore my daughter who is a teacher all of a sudden has a much longer holiday and my son at university came home today, much earlier than the holiday would have started. He had to either come home or stay in the hostel for at least the next two weeks.
No more business as usual
All of a sudden the normal way of doing things until three weeks ago, is not the normal way of doing things anymore. All of a sudden we are all much more aware of higher levels of hygiene and avoiding large gatherings.
# Recession at hand
All the precautionary measures to curb the spreading of the coronavirus is necessary to protect us of its dreadful effect. Yet, on the other hand, to shut down almost all economic activity is to create an economic recession that I believe not one of us has seen in our lifetime.
One of the big causes that lead to the Great Depression in the 1930’s was the fact that there were not enough people who earned money which could in return be spent on the ever increasing number of goods and services being produced.
The number of people who will lose their jobs as a result of the present “almost total” shutdown of every possible event, have yet to be seen. You cannot just remove such a huge chunk of economic activity and think everything and everybody is just going to be fine.
Remain at peace
So, what are we to do? Certainly the easiest thing to do is panic. We currently see it in the so called “panic” shopping everywhere.
But panic never leads to a good outcome.
The people who do best in such unstable circumstances are those who somehow find the resolve to stay calm which enables them to act wisely.
Jesus, the Prince of Peace, before He ascended to heaven, said “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (Joh 14:27)
Also in Joh 16:33 He said “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
In 1Cor 10:13 Paul said “No temptation (test) has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted (tested) beyond what you are able, but with the temptation (test) will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
So perhaps we should look at how we can best use the present very scary situation that we’ve been put into, to our advantage. Ask the Lord and trust Him to “show you the way of escape.”
The best way to find your best career is to first of all know yourself. A Career Direct Assessment is probably the best place to start. It will not only show who you are, but will also point you in the right direction.
