GUIDANCE as "God, You, and I Dance" and COUNSELING as "Communicate yourself in God": A Personal Reflection as an Educator and a Counselor in the COVID-19 Crisis.

In this article, the author describes two ways that can be done during this coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis, namely through GUIDANCE and COUNSELING. The author freely translates that GUIDANCE as "God, You, and I Dance" and COUNSELING as "Communicate yourself in God". In the middle of the COVID-19 crisis, this article offers new insights into the search for meaning and a long-term purpose in life.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has hit the world since December 2019 (Situmorang, 2021a; Sohrabi, 2020). Many things have changed during COVID-19 in various aspects, so we have to change too. As an educator and a counselor, I have made many changes, especially during the teaching and counseling process for my students. That's why I made changes and innovations to the way of teaching and counseling that I usually do. I use and explore new media, that I can use, more so that the teaching and counseling process that I provide can be more interactive and interesting. On the other hand, as a motivator, a trainer, and an influencer; I am often asked to be a guest speaker at various external events outside my campus. I also have to try a lot of new things to make my performance much more interesting.

In these experiences, I realized that I was doing GUIDANCE and COUNSELING to other people so that they could grow into the best version of themselves. In the process of becoming a human with the best version, there are quite a lot of things that need to be realized, especially regarding the best potential that God has given us (Ortberg, 2009). I analogize this potential like gold. Why gold? Because gold is something special and very valuable. Gold has always been an investment item for many people because the value or price of gold tends to continue to rise (Beckmann, Berger, & Czudaj, 2019). In addition, gold is used as a symbol of prestige. This gold analogy can be used to see all the potential that God has given us that the gold we have can be our "selling point". Our potential, value or price will continue to rise and become a source of pride for ourselves.

Furthermore, if we can realize the gold that we have, in the end, we can grow to be the best version of ourselves and in the end, we will realize God's call for our lives. What God wants in our lives, everything comes from the gold that we have, because God wants us to be His instruments and extensions of His hands to continue to be channels of blessing for others. As it is written in a sentence: In Matthew 22:37–40, Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

To be the best version of ourselves by continuing to be a blessing to others in this COVID-19 era, we must do GUIDANCE and COUNSELING with God every day. In the context of this reflection, I freely translate that GUIDANCE as “God, You, and I Dance” and COUNSELING as “Communicate yourself in God”. In the pandemic crisis that we are experiencing together, believe that God, you, and I are dancing together in this sadness. By dancing together we both comfort and strengthen each other. It must be remembered that there is a God who is dancing with us. Believe that when we fall in this dance, God's hand will always help so that we can stand up and dance again. As it is written in a sentence: In Isaiah 41:13, “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” Also, if you and I need any needs in this dance, let's communicate ourselves to God. Whatever we need in this dance, surely God will provide it. As it is written in a sentence: In Matt 7:7, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” And in Philippians 4:19, “And my God will fulfill your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

I believe that you and I will always be able to get through this COVID-19 crisis together with God in an amazing dance. God will always help and provide all sufficiency for us so that we can live in His love. Hopefully, we can get through this crisis together (Situmorang, 2021b), until finally, we can live life again as before the COVID-19 crisis. Amen.