Not that anyone was waiting, or that the world was facing a shortage of words … do you feel these days that there are too many words? All those medical notices about the Coronavirus … from your grocer! From the electric company! From the gas company! From everyone and everywhere … too much!
Like everyone else I think I’ve been in shock. Predictions of hundred of thousands of deaths and millions of infections. Forecasts of critical medical shortages. Government actions at the federal and state level that are drastically upsetting to the economy and to everyone’s lives. Large numbers of people losing their jobs, the bottom seemingly falling out of the stock market … too much!
As an ordained minister, I am supposed to know how to comfort people and reassure and encourage. I’ve been having a hard time doing that for myself much less those I love.
Certainly, we can look to history for encouragement. I just finished reading The Splendid and the Vile, an account by Erik Larson of how the leadership and the people of England survived the first year of World War II, with many tens of thousands killed and injured by the German bombings, particularly in London.
It was Churchill’s valiant will and inspiring leadership that sustained the people. That, and the hope that America would come to the aid of the English people before it was too late. Let us pray for similar sustained and sustaining virtues from our leadership. Let us turn to one another and the peoples of the planet and support and encourage each other during this time of testing.
Beyond examples from human history, we have our faith to sustain us. Remember in Genesis that everything created by God was found it to be good, and very good? It is all there … look it up. But there was one thing that God found that was not good … Gen 2:18 … “Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.”
None of the animals or birds or cattle turned out to be the right choice as a partner. God then created another human to be Adam’s partner. God made us for relationship, and God created us to be in right relationship with one another, including partnering with each other. God made us to help one another because we need help. We are not fully human, fully alive, unless we do help one another.
In this terrible time of bad news and quarantining and isolating, I recommend … be joyful in helping one another. Jesus set the example … Hebrews 12:1-2 … Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
That’s right … joy! The word “joy” appears more than 250 times in the Bible. It is a good Biblical word. And Jesus set the example for us!
The Psalmist says, “Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth.” (Ps 66:1) When the angel spoke to the shepherds keeping watch on Christmas Eve, “… I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people.” Lk 2:10 Jesus to his followers, “I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” Jn 15:11 Paul to the Galatians, “… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, …” Gal 5:22
Many of us, being older and with health challenges, have to stay very close to home. Yet we can still pray, telephone, mail, e-mail, text and tweet messages of encouragement and joy to those we love. We can inquire as to health and safety and needs, be they physical or emotional or spiritual. To the extent that we can reach out to others to travel and visit and bring supplies, we can work for that outreach.
A final note: my wife and I were put on notice by our daughter that we were not to travel, including a trip to visit her kids/our grandkids. I am accustomed to helping others, not being the object of others’ concern and help … hard to accept! And so, just as I urge you to seek ways of helping others, following Jesus example of joyful service and Godly obedience, I encourage myself (and you if it fits) to gladly welcome and accept the help offered from those who love us.
May God’s peace go with us all,
Alan