Have you heard there's an illness going around?
No, not the Coronavirus. This is a different infection. It's more contagious, more rampant, and the symptoms are aplenty. The test is painful to endure, and it feels like it lasts a lifetime. The good news is, there is a vaccination. It won't stop all symptoms, but it will allow you to live your life even with the virus thriving all around you. You will however, be uncomfortable when the virus is nearby...until you're not.
Ah, yes. The other "invisible enemy". The far more dangerous and eternally deadly Enemy that is less commonly discussed than this virus. It's just not "novel" enough to warrant as much protective gear, analyzing, strategizing, committee-forming, oversight, calls for doing more and doing less, acting on it sooner and also waiting, for proof that it's worthy of our sacrifices of social interaction, adding preventative practices to our busy routines, and ultimately, our economic security. And much like with this "novel" virus, we each have our unique definition of "worthy," when it comes to our most personal of sacrifices: relationships, time and money.
There are similar necessities for addressing the infection of either enemy...
Awareness.
- Recognize that it does exist, and that it can be very dangerous, even causing death. Understand the gravity of its potential.
- Help to make others aware from a place of concern, love, and teamwork. Believe and behave as if we are all on the same side.
Action.
- Preventative practices: When you are aware of the benefits, strength and protection they provide, the extra time is a small sacrifice. Soon they are habits you can't believe you overlooked in the past.
- Protect the vulnerable. There are those around you who are not protected, or who have weaker constitutions than you. They have been weakened by fear, anger, pain, addiction and shame. Be mindful and do what you can to help them maintain their health and build their immunity. They don't want to see themselves as weak, and sometimes they don't care as much about protecting themselves as they do about meeting their immediate needs of companionship and love. They may not want to ask for help. They take pride in handling their own maintenance, the way they see others doing.
Treatment.
- Once we realize we are all vulnerable to this enemy, our first inclination is to protect ourselves and our loved ones from being infected. The most effective way to do this is to teach them about infection, how it transfers, and how to guard ourselves from it.
- Set the example; participate in the solution. Support and encourage others any way we can, in their desire to live virus-free.
With the more dangerous enemy, there is a vaccine! It required great sacrifice on the part of its Creator, but comparatively minimal sacrifice on our part. Once we acquire the vaccination, we can live the rest of our lives joyfully liberated from the fear of the virus. As we continue our preventative practices, protect the vulnerable, and associate with others who are joyfully liberated, our quality of life increases exponentially.
Unfortunately, though the vaccine exists, many are afraid of the vaccination and its "unknown side effects," wondering if the solution is worse than the illness. Others get the vaccination, but continue to go through the testing. It's painful and it steals their joy, but they keep going back, believing the lie that they need it. Still others get the vaccination, then cease all healthful practices, while simultaneously putting themselves in any and all situations to most likely obtain the virus...as if testing the power of the vaccine. These people can remain virus-free, but with their unhealthy lifestyle and example, they are responsible for an undetermined amount of community spread.
Covid-19 has turned the world upside down; our leaders have deemed its eradication worthy of painful sacrifices, resulting in the loss of many, many jobs and an economic nosedive. If I discovered a vaccine for this virus, I would share it with everyone I know. I'd tell the world! And this is a virus that can cause debilitating but usually survivable conditions in those who are infected (95% of Americans, 93% worldwide).
The stakes are so much higher on the spiritual level. So much higher. I pray that we Christians can have the kind of passion and concern for our fellow man that we are demonstrating in this pandemic, when it comes the only One who can defeat the real Enemy, and who offers us everlasting life with no fear, illness or death.
Constant awareness. Preventative practices. Protect the vulnerable. Support and encourage your fellow man to do what it takes, to live virus-free. Fearlessly, follow Jesus. We are all "essential workers" in God's kingdom!
"A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." - John 16:32-33
Ah, yes. The other "invisible enemy". The far more dangerous and eternally deadly Enemy that is less commonly discussed than this virus. It's just not "novel" enough to warrant as much protective gear, analyzing, strategizing, committee-forming, oversight, calls for doing more and doing less, acting on it sooner and also waiting, for proof that it's worthy of our sacrifices of social interaction, adding preventative practices to our busy routines, and ultimately, our economic security. And much like with this "novel" virus, we each have our unique definition of "worthy," when it comes to our most personal of sacrifices: relationships, time and money.
There are similar necessities for addressing the infection of either enemy...
Awareness.
- Recognize that it does exist, and that it can be very dangerous, even causing death. Understand the gravity of its potential.
- Help to make others aware from a place of concern, love, and teamwork. Believe and behave as if we are all on the same side.
Action.
- Preventative practices: When you are aware of the benefits, strength and protection they provide, the extra time is a small sacrifice. Soon they are habits you can't believe you overlooked in the past.
- Protect the vulnerable. There are those around you who are not protected, or who have weaker constitutions than you. They have been weakened by fear, anger, pain, addiction and shame. Be mindful and do what you can to help them maintain their health and build their immunity. They don't want to see themselves as weak, and sometimes they don't care as much about protecting themselves as they do about meeting their immediate needs of companionship and love. They may not want to ask for help. They take pride in handling their own maintenance, the way they see others doing.
Treatment.
- Once we realize we are all vulnerable to this enemy, our first inclination is to protect ourselves and our loved ones from being infected. The most effective way to do this is to teach them about infection, how it transfers, and how to guard ourselves from it.
- Set the example; participate in the solution. Support and encourage others any way we can, in their desire to live virus-free.
With the more dangerous enemy, there is a vaccine! It required great sacrifice on the part of its Creator, but comparatively minimal sacrifice on our part. Once we acquire the vaccination, we can live the rest of our lives joyfully liberated from the fear of the virus. As we continue our preventative practices, protect the vulnerable, and associate with others who are joyfully liberated, our quality of life increases exponentially.
Unfortunately, though the vaccine exists, many are afraid of the vaccination and its "unknown side effects," wondering if the solution is worse than the illness. Others get the vaccination, but continue to go through the testing. It's painful and it steals their joy, but they keep going back, believing the lie that they need it. Still others get the vaccination, then cease all healthful practices, while simultaneously putting themselves in any and all situations to most likely obtain the virus...as if testing the power of the vaccine. These people can remain virus-free, but with their unhealthy lifestyle and example, they are responsible for an undetermined amount of community spread.
Covid-19 has turned the world upside down; our leaders have deemed its eradication worthy of painful sacrifices, resulting in the loss of many, many jobs and an economic nosedive. If I discovered a vaccine for this virus, I would share it with everyone I know. I'd tell the world! And this is a virus that can cause debilitating but usually survivable conditions in those who are infected (95% of Americans, 93% worldwide).
The stakes are so much higher on the spiritual level. So much higher. I pray that we Christians can have the kind of passion and concern for our fellow man that we are demonstrating in this pandemic, when it comes the only One who can defeat the real Enemy, and who offers us everlasting life with no fear, illness or death.
Constant awareness. Preventative practices. Protect the vulnerable. Support and encourage your fellow man to do what it takes, to live virus-free. Fearlessly, follow Jesus. We are all "essential workers" in God's kingdom!
"A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." - John 16:32-33
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| Photo by 🇨🇭 Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum on Unsplash |
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