Christians & Coronavirus:
Staying Connected in Christ
APRIL 7, 2020
"PRAY WE'LL REMEMBER"
PRAY WE'LL REMEMBER
I began to follow the coronavirus in January as rumblings of it began to hit Twitter. Being fascinated with science and data, it was a curiosity that at first created a bit of wonder in nature’s powerful forces. As the news grew more dire, the curiosity turned to slight concern as the data was showing how rapidly the disease was hitting China. With the world being so connected, I knew deep down trouble was brewing, and this one felt different than the other health scares many of us have lived through.
Yet, the arrogance within me thought at different times that it would not make it to our shores, and if it did, we’d take care of it quickly. As a former soldier, I deeply love our country, and sometimes, I’m overly confident about what we as Americans can do. We can beat back anything, anywhere because that’s what we do. Our political leaders haven’t always allowed it, but we fight to win!
This virus is stripping the blinders away though, and it’s displaying for all of us how much we are alike. It’s displaying the fragility of life. It doesn’t matter if you’re in Wuhan, Milan, or New York City, we’re all the same in some very important ways. It’s showing us that rather than always thinking how different we are from the other person, we ought to consider how much alike we are.
“So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone.” (Ephesians 2:19-20)
It is good for us to be reminded of this, and I wonder what we do with it once the crisis passes. Will we return to our comfortable apathy, grow further apart, or will we find new ways of working with one another across cultures and nations? My hope is that it brings new life to seeing beauty in the diversity across humanity, and that we can find joy in our differences rather than fear them. My fear is that I won’t remember this lesson I am learning, and I’ll miss an opportunity to be a part of God’s plan to love one another. Let’s all pray we’ll remember our connection.
Mike Francomb
St. Andrew Parishioner