we are just going to dive right on in and talk about the elephant in the room. correction. the elephant around the world otherwise known as the coronavirus. this virus has been the talk for days and has caused a lot of worry and stress among many. with businesses shutting their doors, schools closed, and events cancelled it is safe to say that it has put people in a panic - which is all completely understandable. you listen to the news and it is a lot to take in at once. i know for a fact that i spent plenty of time stressing about it myself because i was actually supposed to be traveling tonight to get my wisdom teeth removed on friday. was it safe to travel? what precautions should i take if my travels went through? would i have to be quarantined when i came back home because of my travels? did i want to miss that much work? would i even continue to have work? as the questions continued to pile on so did my worries, but i am a big believer that when you lean in on faith glorious things come from it. now, naturally i am a person who tends to overthink things so it is easy when things like this come along that i would be completely worried about it, but to my surprise i have been honestly quite calm. why? not only have i continued to pray for comfort and faith, but i continue to believe in the goodness of a glorious god.. even though this is not the staycation i imagined (yes, i am one of those people who is out of work for the time being). 2 chronicles 7:13-15 reads:

“when i shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then i will hear from heaven, and i will forgive their sin and will heal their land. now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.”

when we trust in him we are bound to see his mercy. now this doesn’t mean we do not take precautions or for doctors to give up seeking a cure. it simply means that we have enough faith to not be afraid of what is to come. it means that we continue living and doing so in peace and harmony with one another.

now i am by no means saying i have it all figured out but i came up with some simple do’s and dont’s to consider during the covid-19 pandemic that i think are helpful reminders.

do not: panic. while there is a lot going in regards to new information on the virus, closures, or simply fears of getting sick we can not allow ourselves to stay in a state of being overwhelmed. when we are overwhelmed we tend to make irrational choices and do not completely take things into consideration. instead take time to re-evaluate situations and sit with options before rushing to meet a decision. this is not the end of the world. just like other new viruses that have come, more information will be found in regards to the corona virus and before we know it we will be treating it like another flu or cold. ie. something that happens and you get over. not to mention most people heal from it (even without medicine!)

do: take precautions. this is probably the best way to make sure you and your loved ones stay healthy. faith alone can not save us, but faith in action can. if we expect god to do everything, we will not see change because he meets us where we meet him. we have to take the steps necessary to fully see his grace (this applies to anything we do). in times such as these that means washing hands thoroughly (often!), covering our coughs/sneezes, staying home when we are sick, and limiting our encounters. this is nothing new, but it is so important that we do what we can to help not only ourselves, but each other.

do not: be selfish. it is crazy seeing stores being wiped out as if a zombie apocalypse has come. really, you would think that toilet paper was gold these days and while it seems silly when you say it, it’s true. there have been people fighting one another or stealing things from others carts in order to stock up which is absolutely ridiculous. not to mention what these actions teach our younger generations. to be selfish? no. that is far from what we want. we need to be mindful of ourselves and our needs, but also not take unnecessary amounts that leave others with nothing. some people can not stock up thus they need to be able to go to a grocery store when they can to get items. we must be caring, thoughtful, and kind, because at the end of the day we need each other. each person is an important piece to what makes our community thrive.

do: be generous. with your time, with you resources, and with you attitude. there are many reasons to be worried and stressed that it is important we are there for one another. this may take form in lending an ear to someone who wants to talk about what is going on or maybe being generous with your time looks like grocery shopping for someone who can not go themselves because they are either quarantined, at risk, or unable to do so on their own due to other factors such as age or other medical reasons. maybe it is helping someone financially or sharing your food with them. being generous could even be as simple as providing some positive and encouraging words.

so you beautiful people you, please please please try to not let this time cause you too much distress. my love is with you all and i am praying for your peace of mind as well as health. we will get through this.