Because of the coronavirus stay-at-home orders, each state is tasked with defining what are essential businesses. These are the businesses that are allowed to stay open because they are deemed necessary for the community to survive.
Apparently, if you live in Florida, you cannot survive without professional wrestling because it is listed as an essential business. But Florida isn’t the only state that has jumped off the deep end.
Recreational marijuana stores are essential in Washington, Colorado, and other states. And in Texas, liquor stores and gun shops have also been deemed necessary for our way of life.
Now I realize someone will object and say that Florida identified professional wrestling as an essential business because it is needed entertainment, marijuana is helping people deal with the pressures of life, and, if you are aTexan, beer and bullets have always been and will always be a necessary staple.
In the immortal words of Bill Engvall, “Here’s your sign.”
I truly believe that identifying these businesses as essential shows how many in our society are looking for comfort and peace in the wrong direction. But there is a better way.
Two millennia ago, Jesus stood before a very anxious, worried group of people and said: “Instead, desire first and foremost God’s kingdom and God’s righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)
Today, for real comfort, don’t spend your entire day on Netflix or YouTube, do what is essential. Spend some time with God. Read the Bible. Go to a private place, get on your knees and pray. Use modern technology to connect to someone who needs to talk. Spend quality time with whomever you are cooped up with. Also, find a way to lighten someone’s heavy burden. These are the thing that are truly essential.
Prayer: Dear Gracious Heavenly God, in this time of uncertainty, help me see what really matters. Let me strengthen my relationship with you and become the person you want me to be. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Sometimes we need to be reminded what really matters and what doesn’t. I hope we get it right.
I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins
Daily Devotionals by Dr. Tom Robbins 
My brother lives there in Temple, and he works at a gun shop!!! Me, I want the hairdressers to be opened again!!! Talk about an essential business!!! YIKES! I enjoy your devotionals! I am a United Methodist living in Ennis, Texas. Heard about your devotionals in our Wednesday night Bible study months ago. Thanks for letting us subscribe!!! Stay Safe! Kay Weathers”Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” -John Wesley
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