“We are not alone in this, we are in this together; We are in isolation, but stay connected while practicing social distancing; We will all get through this, however unemployment is worse now than in our country’s history; Better days are coming, but this virus has not yet reached its peak; Businesses can begin to re-open slowly and with restrictions, but there will be a serious surge in COVID-19 cases and deaths that could be worse than what we have now.”
Whew! Everyone all over the world has heard these statements in every language. Some people are taking them very seriously, some don’t believe them at all. Whether people believe these statements, or whether they think the whole thing is a political plot, or bioterrorism, or accurate, or exaggerated, there is one thing that has become a parallel crisis: we have a pandemic of DOUBT-2020. Doubt is an insidious virus that is seeping into every aspect of our lives. We are doubting the future of our businesses, our careers, and we are questioning our ability to educate our children. We are doubtful of the medical researchers, of our leaders, of our long-term care facilities, and we are even doubting our food supplies. I think the worst doubts are in our relationships, in ourselves, and in our faith. Even if we think we have immunity to the virus DOUBT-2020, all it takes is one word or the raising of an eyebrow from someone, and we are infected before we know it. No amount of bleach, hand sanitizer, nor facemasks will protect us.
Our imaginations play a major role in DOUBT-2020. It is extremely demoralizing when we feel we have no control over something as dangerous as a serious illness, especially when we don’t know much about it. So, our imaginations kick in, we convince ourselves and each other that something is a fact, and we panic. Have you seen the supermarket shelves? That’s panic, and keeping our closets bulging with cases of toilet paper is our way of feeling in control. But we’re not in control…fortunately. If I had to be the one in control of this, there would be good reason to panic. However, God has shown his ultimate control in every crisis in so many ways and through so many people that one would think we would know better by now. Our own doubts combine with presumptions, so we feel we need to take over; it’s so contagious that the negative effects spill over into other areas of our lives long after the initial illness is over. Doubt doesn’t like to let go, and the consequences from it can leave some scars that last forever. “Being in this together” then morphs into “every man for himself.”
I am not a medical or economic expert on crises, and even the certified experts are doubting themselves right now. But we can all be experts in kindness, compassion, patience, trust, and faith. We can learn to be kind to those who are fearful, to be compassionate and reassuring to those who are hurting, to be patient towards those who are confused and angry, and to trust those who are well trained in their field. Most of all, we can have faith in God that He will be the one instigating the recovery of the world, and He will be the one to teach us the strength and wisdom we will acquire through it all.
Lovingly take care of each other as we all
Dance on.
Grace Notes 