2020 has been a year we never expected.  Since March, our country and in many cases the entire world has been locked down.  Schools were closed.  Stores were tightly controlled. Offices were all but abandoned.  Traffic was non-existent.  The daily Covid-19 updates have become as important as any stock market or oil price index.  We’ve been told not to wear mask and then mandated to wear a mask or be fined.  Businesses count people to be sure the “magic” occupancy number is never passed.  Restaurants struggle with full costs with 50% capacity requirements.  Churches have been shuttered.  Weddings have been postponed or greatly reduced in scope.  Trips were cancelled.  We have hidden away in an effort to escape the corona virus. 

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”  

Psalm 56:3 NIV

I will say that I have been amazed at the fear (and honestly the panic) I have witnessed among my friends and family.  Maybe because I’m a numbers person, I’ve not been as alarmed by the daily counts.  Statistics are just that:  statistics.  Without clearly defined parameters, statistics are often useless.  I have read the daily Covid-19 updates.  I have seen the upticks in positive tests.  It seems that the media uses raw numbers to fuel the panic.  I can’t help but ask about the parameters:   How many of the positive tests were retests?  What is the % of positive tests to the total number of tests?  What is the false positive/negative rate used to normalize the data?  Why are we not using the Diamond Princess (a quarantined, microcosm) for forecasting and comparisons?

“For the Holy Spirit, God’s gift, does not want you to be afraid of people, but to be wise and strong, and to love them and enjoy being with them.” 

2 Timothy 1:7 TLB

The schools are beginning to open up to the great relief (and even joy) of many parents and students.  There is still great fear.  But, if we look at previous years, the beginning of school always signaled the spread of colds, viruses, flu, etc.  This year, with sanitation as the focal point, I would think they students and teachers are safer than ever.  I fully expect that the Covid-19 virus will move from epidemic to a part of regular life.  It will never fully disappear.  We have to learn to live with it and its varying mutations much as we currently do with the various flu strains.  Just as we had to build an immunity to the viruses that caused measles, mumps, smallpox, chickenpox, polio, etc., we will have to find a level of immunity to this virus.   

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me..”  Psalm 23:4 NIV

Psalm 23:4 NIV

I know that this virus is virulent and can be deadly.  (I know the same thing about the measles.  I survived my 2 week bout with the measles during the outbreak of 1977.) For those that have lost loved ones to this pandemic, I have the deepest sympathy.  I know others that have recovered but are still suffering the after effects.  I have truly sorry.  But, at some point, we have to allow people the freedom to live the best life that they can.  We have to move forward in the best way that we can. 

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” 

Matthew 6:34 NIV

Today, I have a selection of masks to wear when I leave the house.  I have hand sanitizer in my purse, in my car and on my desk at work.  I’ve have grown accustomed to “attending” church in my living room.  I’ve learned to use Zoom and have actually connected faces to names in my weekly Zoom prayer meeting.  I’ve enjoyed the lack of traffic as I journeyed to the office as an “essential person.”  I’ve tried take-out from new places with varying degrees of success.  Curb-side pickup was already a favorite of mine and that hasn’t changed. I’m doing my best to be safe and free of fear.  I’ve grown accustomed to asking for permission before entering an elevator with another person. 

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.” 

Psalm 34:4 NIV

I hope the day comes (very soon) when masks are an option not a mandate.  I look forward to seeing friends and hugging or shaking hands without hesitation.  I’m praying for all businesses to fully reopen and for people to be allowed to return to work.    

These are my goals for today:

• To live my life as fully as God will allow
• To follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in every undertaking
• To be sensitive the fears and concerns of other with feeling guilt for not sharing those same fears and concerns
• To avoid the frenzy that has become the media
• To ask questions, seek the fact, act on the truth

What are your goals to get through the next few months, weeks, days or even hours?  How will you move forward?