Yes, the Coronavirus,
Covid -19 has definitely had devastating effects on the entire world. (https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/?utm_campaign=CSauthorbio?#countries)
The effects on the USA alone are
staggering, considering that we are one of the richest, most technological countries
in the world... or we thought we were. https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/
This is not a political speech… but I
must segue into this for a moment: I must say that some have behaved
responsibly in this and some have been shamefully arrogant, greedy and selfish.
I am not a political person, actually I am quite politically illiterate. Along
with that, I don’t care for watching the news. But I have watched every day for
months now.
I am not an ignorant person. In my years
of work experience, I have become overly observant, critical and analytical to
a fault. I have little faith in our government;
those who are supposed to be for the people, by the people. I won’t get
into that. This world lacks the integrity, values and ideals that we need to
survive. But every now and then…
I have been so disappointed by
politicians over the years, I turn away when it is on TV. There was one in
Arizona that seemed to care, but he left. I imagine people with good character
can’t survive in a world fraught with under the table dealings. But here we are…
Our Governor, Gavin Newsome, has caused
me to take notice. He is articulate in speech, thorough in his research,
compassionate to all socioeconomic classes and responds swiftly to protect his
constituents…. Wow, I can’t even believe that ‘that’ came out of my mouth. Thanks
for showing me that real people with character qualities can make their way
above the sludge. I could see Him as president. (End of political rant)
From the first known case of Covid 19, in
the world, on November 17th until now, this illness has spread like wild fire. In
five months, we have over 2 million cases and over 145 thousand deaths in the
world. Literally everything
has changed in a flash.
Some people took it
very seriously and many who didn’t, and bucked authority over sheltering in
place, have now died.
Romans 13: 1-7: “Let every person be subject to the governing
authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that
exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities
resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good
conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority?
Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good.
But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he
is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the
wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one
must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake
of conscience. 6 For
because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God,
attending to this very thing. 7 Pay
to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom
revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.”
You see, I have faith
in God also, but the bible does tell us to respect authority and
to abide by what they say as long as it does not go against what God has said.
Hebrews 11: 1-3: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope
for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at
God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
I am pretty sure, if
you read the bible, you will find passages about recklessness, foolishness, ignorance
and irresponsibility as well. Just sayin’.
It likely was easier
for the USA than it must have been for the countries who were first affected by
this pandemic. I mean, you wouldn’t know what hit you, would you? Initially, you
would be thinking you were looking at the flu or pneumonia before you would
think to test for this. The horror of realizing what it is and having to figure
out how to respond to save lives… unimaginable.
My heart goes out to all of you... all of us.
People fought being
shut in here. Not me. As much as I love my students and the people that I work
with, I was immediately concerned. I have had pneumonia twice, bronchitis and
respiratory issues all of my life and I am auto immune deficient… and almost 60
but let’s not go there. 😊
I was worried
about how to do my job from home. Bank runs, picking up the mail from each
center, processing checks, paying bills, etc. I miss the connection, the break
from brain work, the running up and down the stairs, hearing the students pour
out their hearts and being able to reach out to them instead of trying to
comfort them over the phone.
I have adjusted to
working in the bus/rv and it has its pros and cons. The size and set up and
tear down every day, having to rely on others graciously instead of stubbornly
trying to do it all (good lesson for me in there) and not being able to scan or
fax is a negative. But the solitude and time to focus is a bonus.
Many people are not so
lucky. Stay at home means to be unemployed. This alone makes everything so
uncertain. I get a vision of our country being a mule overburdened with the
weight of financial hardships that will ultimately fall and shatter, taking our
quality of life with it.
Something else too. You
can’t hide your character at times like this. This it when who you are is
exposed right quick. Greed and hoarding supplies have made it
difficult to find the necessities like toilet paper and meat and food. Price
gouging is at an all-time high. What used to cost .99 cents now cost double for
half of what we used to get, if not more. People, in their ignorance, arrogance
and impatience, continue to risk getting and spreading this terrible disease.
2 Timothy 3:1-7: “But
understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For
people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive,
disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable,
slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous,
reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. “
In general, our
farmers have to dispose of the crops and milk because they can’t distribute it.
Businesses are going under. Non-profits like ours are struggling to meet the
needs of the homeless and the lost. People
can’t be with their loved ones. People can’t say goodbye or make amends on
their death bed. They are fighting for their lives physically alone
with the exception of those essential workers who do their best to be there for
them.
We will likely never
be the same. And that just might be a good thing. We are ready for a new way of
being. People who have fought to shut God out of schools and the world are now
crying out to him in the darkness.
We shut ins, while we
complain about the way we have it and how isolated we feel, have an army of
essential workers who, not tirelessly, risk their very lives, as well as their
families to care for the multitudes who have become ill. These people are
tormented with the inability to save them all. They are broken having to watch
our family members die alone. Their families live this nightmare with them, being
separated from their loved ones because their loved ones are serving us! People are
willingly standing in the gap where we can’t. We have people who continue to
serve the homeless and broken, pick up food donations, and search for funds to
keep the doors open in this ungodly crisis. We can never repay their sacrifice.
Ever.
These battle fatigued
warriors do not go unnoticed. People have recognized their sacrifice and are
trying the best way that they can, to let them know we pray for them, we love
and appreciate them and our hearts go out to them in this brutal time. Take
heart mighty warriors:
Romans 5:1-5: “Therefore, since we have been justified through
faith, we[a] have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through
whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now
stand. And we[b] boast
in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only
so, but we[c] also
glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces
perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and
character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to
shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the
Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
Once again, He uses
the worst situations to show His mercy and glory. Out of the darkness, the
light also slowly rises to the top. He uses other people to show us what it
should look like; such as our essential employees who make daily sacrifices to
keep the world going. Familial bonds are strengthening. Good people share what
little they have. People check on those who are shut in and check on the
neighbors and church members that they didn’t know before. We are looking for
ways that we can lift the spirits of others in this horrendous time.
And amidst the crisis and
devastation, people realize that this world cannot offer them solace or
salvation. There is only one Hope... they are turning to God. I only pray that,
this time, those who turn to Him understand that making Him a part of their
daily lives will bring Him even closer to them. It isn’t a one-time prayer. It
is a relationship. I am here if you wish to talk about what that looks like.
But the bible is the best way to learn.
Jeremiah 29:11: “For
I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare
and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
I love you all and
pray for you daily.
