I’ve been thinking about a physics concept called potential energy that has a lot of relevance to the situation we find ourselves in amidst the Covid-19 lock-down. Potential energy is simply the stored energy an object has because of its position or state. A bicycle on top of a hill, an arrow drawn back in a bow, or a skier poised to drop into a steep hill all have potential energy. Essentially, its energy that is ready to be released with some form of trigger – simple gravity, releasing the bow string, or a skier launching over the edge of a precipice. I see our great economic engine in this country and the small businesses that make it go in a similar fashion – poised to be released with the right trigger
I can relate with the skier in this example as I’ve been that guy on top of a steep hill ready to “drop in” but rather than releasing the energy, I was held back by caution or fear or uncertainty about what lay below. As I look around the landscape of our current Covid-19 situation, I see a similar situation with many businesses including our own – we’re poised ready to release the combined energy of our collective organizations, but held back by the unprecedented restraint of caution and concern. But here’s the good news, soon – hopefully very soon – our collective potential energy will be released. The bicycle at the top of the hill, the arrow in the bow, the skier on the edge will launch. Until then, we trust in the law of potential energy, and more importantly – we trust in the God that created that principle and gives us the ability to persevere while we wait. (Proverbs 3:5-6)