March Madness, Media, Mixed Messages and CoronaVirus Contagion

Seriously?! My inbox overflows with 57 new emails in the last couple of hours. The majority of them are related to the CoronaVirus. The devastation and recommendations seem to change hourly, and each update is a bigger blow to “our way of life”. March Madness and all sporting events: Cancelled. Schools have been ordered to close or the classes are moved to online platforms. ~~Major~~ Any events with 50+ people are cancelled or postponed for at least eight weeks. My dental procedure has been rescheduled. Churches and Bible studies are on hold. The list goes on and on.

The hype seems over-exaggerated to some, and mixed messages in the media are abundant. So many questions race through our minds and we don’t always have satisfactory answers. Are we sure there is not some powerful opportunistic group that is spreading the fear as a manipulative tactic? How quickly is the disease really multiplying? How many are dying? Is it truly worse than the flu? How much toilet paper will I need if I hole up at my house?

As a greeter at church on Sunday, I was told to have no physical contact and let people pick up their own bulletins. One woman declared, “I am SO GLAD we can meet together when so many churches are closed.” I was grateful, too, and our pastor gave a wonderful and relevant message on rest and peace in the midst of fear.

Many of my friends see this as an opportunity to love others and show kindness. The economic impact is going to be immense and crippling to some. What do we have that we can share with those in need? Working parents may appreciate offers of child care or picking up some groceries (if you can) while you are at the store anyway. One friend posted her recipe for hand sanitizer on Facebook instead of selling it during the crisis.

With so many people home and the stress of the situation, some may experience greater frustration and anger at spouses or children. Are there ways we can help before situations get out of hand? Assuredly, there will be an increase in the need for social services, and these agencies will quickly max out there resources. Are we able to mobilize those who are home to safely volunteer for the providers so some of the burden is lifted?

Local homeschool organizations are already reporting an upswing in people interested in teaching their own children. In Phoenix, Covenant Home School Resource Center is gearing up with information and resources to help those who want to continue learning at home.

As I listen to people and read online information, I still feel somewhat conflicted about the seemingly draconian measures we are taking. However, after reading articles on both sides and seeing more updated information on the exponential spread of cases, I understand better the need for great care. Medical resources are overwhelmed with high numbers of patients in short succession. Even though, for most, the symptoms will be mild, the aggressive rate of contagion and the danger to elderly with other health issues is critical.

I found some articles which changed my thinking on the matter:

On Facebook, I found a piece written by a family in Wuhan, China about their experience under weeks of lock down in the city. The post is rather long, so I will summarize using the author’s words.

Our family life has never been better. . . we’ve been home together with very little outside influences or distraction, forced to reconnect with one another, learn how to communicate better, give each other space, slow down our pace, and be a stronger family than ever before.
We’ve learned how to accept help from others.
Shopping is so much easier now. It comes straight to our complex, and we just pick it up. Simple.
Right now I hear birds outside my window (on the 25th floor). I used to think there weren’t really birds in Wuhan, because you rarely saw them and never heard them.
Spring in Wuhan is absolutely stunning. . . we get to watch spring slowly unfold right in front of us with no work, traffic, pollution, or other distractions. I have pulled up my chair and am ready for the creator’s show.
My cooking has gotten way more creative. I’m cooking like a homesteader. Housekeeping hasn’t suffered, either.
We take naps in the middle of the day sometimes.
We’ve all been reading so much more than before.
I’ve reconnected with lots of old friends. We’ve talked with our families more than ever before.
We still work and do school, but all from home and all on flexible hours. It is not perfect, but it is fairly productive and good.
We are exercising more.
My prayer life has never been better and my study time has been much more real. I have quiet time that is actually (usually) quiet – and I can devote real time to it.
We had “church” by Zoom this morning at 10:30, as usual.
God is providing so many opportunities for good while we are here, and he is showing us his goodness every single moment.
We are at peace in the epicenter of the virus. We are at peace in the epicenter of his will.
Coronavirus wants you to isolate and stock up and take care of your own first. Instead, look to him first while you take care of others. In community, we can do so much more than we can do on our own. God is caring for us so richly and showering us with SO MUCH GOOD each and every moment.

Isn’t that fabulous? I encourage you to read the entire message. Let’s ponder the good things which can come from a time of forced slowing down and being isolated with family.

Will you share the ways you are dealing with the situation? I would love to have discussion about the good things that are coming out of this for you. Together and with the Lord’s guidance, we can be an influence for positive outcomes to this very difficult time.

Let’s draw near to God to hear His heart. He is waiting to give us His peace instead of fear. There is a world of hurting people desperate for the confidence we have in Christ.

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:35, 37-39