Navigating the Coronavirus
Originally published Mar 17, 2020
“Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
This is a strange time. A lot is up in the air. Below is bit of perspective and some practical tips for Christians trying to figure out how to faithfully respond to the Coronavirus.
1. Make Space for the Lord
It may feel disorienting to have many of your daily rhythms upended. There are many concerns about life that have already emerged: Am I going to make it, financially? How do I figure out care for my kids? How much toilet paper do we need? Am I going to be okay? With the crush of all of the things that will inhabit your mental world in the weeks to come, it will be tempting to believe that God is not with you — that you’ve been left alone to figure it out.
So remember that God is here. Right now. Right where you are. In this moment. And he will be with you through this. Continue to make space for the One who loves you. While it’s good to be informed, be mindful of becoming overly immersed in the latest news about the virus in a way that’s unhealthy. Make time to read scripture, reflect and pray. Start there and do it every day. And do it with others, if possible.
2. Be Wise and Act in Love
By now, you’ve probably heard about social distancing. The basic idea is to limit your physical contact with others in order to stem the spread of the Coronavirus. It’s wise to practice social distancing as much as you’re able to. This is central to stemming the spread of the virus.
As people of faith, remember that we don’t walk in fear — we walk in love. And that may not be easy in the weeks to come. But as you begin to exercise these practices, think of them as small acts of love. For those under 40, the risk of death from the Coronavirus is relatively low. But if you are young, don’t take your youth as a license to navigate the world without wisdom. Instead, implementing reasonable social distancing practices in your own life can help reduce the chance that you may spread the disease to someone more vulnerable. And that’s not nothing.
One other thought: some people need to go to work to pay the rent and feed their kids. Others need to go to work because they are providing a service that’s critical right now. In some cases, it may be both. As we consider the different lines of work people find themselves in — medical professionals and bus drivers, public school administrator and grocery store clerks — let’s be compassionate with those around us. Recognize that people have to make complicated decisions about what to do with really practical questions. It’s tricky. Again, be wise and act in love.
3. Make Space for Others (Including the Vulnerable)
We are entering a time where we are going to need to be more physically isolated, to protect the health of everyone. Many of you will begin working from home if you haven’t already. And the points of connection that give you life — grabbing drinks with friends at a busy bar, going to church, or working out at the gym — those things will need to be minimized (or eliminated) for the foreseeable future. In that reality, it will be easy to feel lonely and isolated as the questions about the future swirl.
[Update: March 31, 2020 - I have been reflecting on the section below since it was originally posted. Be sure to follow regular updates from local and national authorities. What’s below still meets the requirements in the state of Virginia (where I live) though some individuals are working be more stringent than the minimum requirements.]
But we can still work to make space for others. While we should all avoid large groups, small groups of less than ten people can still meet together. At the current moment, meetings with just a handful of people are possible if:
no one present is sick or has any reason to think they might be
shared surfaces are disinfected before and after the meeting,
everyone washes their hands thoroughly (more than 20 seconds) upon arrival and upon returning to their home,
food and drink are served individually, and
as much distance as possible is maintained between members of different households and their belongings.
I’ve pasted what’s above directly from this superb piece by Andy Crouch
Beyond that (or if the guidance on physical meetings changes) there are all kinds of digital ways to stay connected: phone calls, texts, video chatting. Get creative about how to connect in the weeks to come. If you can hear someone’s voice or see their face, that’s even better.
And don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help if you need it. Even if it’s as simple as texting a friend and saying “Hey, I’m feeling really isolated. Can we talk tonight?” There’s no shame in that.
But there’s more to the story, here. For the vulnerable, the Coronavirus will hit particularly hard. Think about the single mom with three kids, living check-to-check washing dishes at a restaurant. How will she care for her kids when the local public school is closed? What happens if the restaurant where she works shuts down for a few weeks? And how will she find the money or time to get groceries? Or consider elderly man who lives alone in a retirement facility since his wife passed away. What happens when visitors can no longer drop by or when there’s an issue with his prescription? These are just two quick examples of the far-reaching financial, emotional and social impacts that this pandemic brings with it. And that’s not even to mention the risk of contracting the virus itself.
Consider how you might expand your sphere of care beyond yourself, your family and your tribe. Once you you have steady footing, give someone else a hand. If you see someone that needs help, work to meet their need. Let’s get creative about the ways we give care to and receive care from each other, in new and unexpected ways.
This is how we can love the world around us. In the weeks to come, it will be tempting to move inward and become self-focused. But because of Christ’s great love for us, the world beyond ourselves beckons. His death and resurrection unleashes a deeper love. We must move outward and become others-focused. True, it may cost you something. But the best forms of love always do.
We are in a moment where people of faith have the power to step into the shadow of death and meet it with practical acts of love. As followers of the Christ empowered by the Holy Spirit, we know that death doesn’t get the final word. Love does. So walk faithfully, trusting in the love of the One who conquered death to unleash the possibility of life that endures.
Verses for Reflection
2 Timothy 1:6–7
I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you … for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.Phillippians 2:3–4
…in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.1 Peter 5:6–11
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.