THE NEW NORMAL
Recently USA News made two statements: “Ignorance is the new normal. Stupidity is the new normal.” Where is there hope in these two philosophical statements?
Curiosity is a significantly powerful learning skill. It reduces anger because it is almost impossible to be both curious and angry at the same time. For this reason, the frustrated parent should put on the curiosity hat and not the anger helmet. Curiosity also eliminates jumping to conclusions on controversial topics as new normals, belief systems and critical judgments of people.
Out of curiosity, what qualifies as the new normal currently? In only a few years we will reach the quarter mark of the 21st century (year 2025). Already the culture has changed dramatically in the last ten years, and it continues to change. Until 1900, human knowledge doubled approximately every century. Now, in the 21st century, it is said doubling of knowledge is every 12 hours.
Is there a new normal? Culture is the social behavior and normals found in human society transmitted through social learning. Yes, culture may change. Is our future changing? Although culture may change, faith is hanging on, knowing good is ahead of us. This is with godly hope as the anchor to our faith, not the culture around us.
St. Paul said to hang onto the old normals when he said: “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8)
My dear coach friend, the late Chuck Hepworth, fought multi myeloma cancer until his last breath. This giant of a man dropped weight from 240 to 160. Chuck’s final words to me in very faint whispers in my close-up ear were: “Fred, I never thought it would come to this; but I want you to know Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (tomorrow).” (Hebrews 13:8)
The old normal, the new normal and the future normal will never change as long as our attention is on Jesus, the King of Kings. No other name can save, deliver, restore; no other name is greater. He gives hope to all the world. Therefore, love God with our heart, soul and mind, and love others as ourselves.
