–from Mark Oelze PLEDGEtalk.com and TrueLifeResources.com
No doubt you like me, are hearing from every available news source about the effect the Corona Virus is having throughout the world, and now the United States. Fear about the virus and the effects on our lives, jobs, and overall economy continue to grow.
My son called us last night saying the university where he teaches has made the decision to not continue on-campus classes after Spring Break – all professors are being told they must hold their classes online, likely for the rest of the semester. In the news this morning I saw a long line of universities across the country doing the same.
Sports are suspending or cancelling games (like the NBA!). St Patrick’s day parades are being cancelled. Political rallies and events are being cancelled the same. It’s the fear of gathering in crowds, and how it could spread the virus. These are just a few of the many ways in which this is affecting our country.
What if things got even worse, and we were all told to stay home for awhile?
MIGHT I SUGGEST SOME POSITIVE IN THE MIDST OF ALL THIS?
In our all too busy world, “being” has been replaced by “doing.” Families are so busy running children from one event to another, there is no time for mom and dad to connect with each other or their kids. The noise we are offered from TV and movies and video games and music and podcasts and smart phones and social media and more, hinders us all from sitting still and quietly with someone to converse about life, to listen, and even enjoy their presence. I am afraid for many, they would not even know how to do this anymore.
What if in the midst of this all we came to realize on a much deeper level about what matters most in life – like people and relationships and the gift of life itself?
For those of us who live with others, “having to stay at home” might just mean that we would have the opportunity to connect more with our spouse or our kids or a roommate or friend.
For those who live alone, it may be a good opportunity to reach out to someone and acknowledge any needs you may have. That can be hard, but it is part of what makes us human – we need others.
And a final word to all of us who do not live alone – may we be stirred to look around us and seek to meet the needs of anyone we know who is alone. It is following what Jesus once said: “love your neighbor as yourself.”
So my simple advice:
1. Get enough toilet paper, prescription drugs, and food to last for two to four weeks (ready.gov). And do it now so if and when the rush takes place you will already be prepared.
2. Maybe get more to share with a neighbor or family member who is alone.
3. Then plan on spending time enjoying and rebuilding those relationships that matter most to you!
4. And for those of you who pray, please do! Pray for wisdom for our leaders. Pray for a growing understanding to fall on our nation of what is truly important in life, and most important – to know God Himself.
