COVID19
Never has a week gone on as long as this one. People across the nation are making radical changes to their lives as we adjust to what we hope are temporary new realities. How do we live in light of these new realities?
Be ready but don’t react
We have known for a long time that we are supposed to have 2 weeks worth of emergency supplies on hand. Now that a national emergency has caused us all to see the value in such a request, many have run to the store to buy 6 weeks worth of some supplies. Now the internet is filled with TP memes. There is nothing wrong with being ready by having some supplies on hand but if you find yourself buying out of fear, take a deep breath and take inventory of your supplies and what you really need before making that purchase.
Be informed but not insecure
It is important to be informed as to what is going on in our nation so we can follow the necessary requests and requirements presented to us. However, there is a line we can cross when we become obsessed with information when it causes us to lose sleep or experience anxiety when we hear the news. If you are feeling anxiety, it is okay to turn off the news.
Be clear but not calloused
You are absolutely going to hear someone say something you don’t agree with. It is okay to be clear about what you know but please do not be dismissive of the other person. Understand that everyone is experiencing COVID-19 differently. Even when people make decisions we don’t agree with we need to be gracious with each other.
Be flexible but not flippant
Most of my time this week has been spent trying to figure out how to “do church” in an exclusively digital format. This is going to require all of us to be flexible in our approach to how we do church. However, this does not mean we are flippant with our approach to worship and our spiritual life. Be flexible with the decisions your church makes then engage those offerings with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength. Celebrate what God is doing in these new, hopefully temporary, realities.
My Student Ministries Pastor, Jeremey Veal, said, “We may have to be engage in social distancing but we don’t have to engage in spiritual distancing.” That is good advice that we all can live out today.