I’m not nervous about COVID-19. Whatever happens, God is still in control. That said, I’m absolutely a huge advocate of taking quick, determined action. My area has had over four hundred confirmed cases and several fatalities, and that number is rapidly growing. Even so, it’s been quiet for me so far. Other than one day a week at my ambulance shifts, I’ve been home for the past three and a half weeks. It’s given me a good chance to do some cyber people-watching. One interesting theme is discussions Christians are having about what the church should be doing during this time. After all, we’re supposed to help the needy, meet together, and reach out to the world with the love of Christ. But how can we do that if we’re stuck at home? 1. Donate supplies
The need for homeless shelters, food banks, soup kitchens, pregnancy centers, blood banks, and many other organizations continues. If anything, their services are more critical than ever in the midst of COVID-19. Plus, many people in your community are in the at-risk population. Right now, they need to stay away from public areas like grocery stores. My county has a stay-at-home order, but one exception is getting essential supplies for yourself, loved ones, or charity organizations. Such an exception is standard for almost every area. There is nothing to stop you from donating supplies which are needed now more than ever. (If you’re worried about possibly unknowingly carrying the disease as you do so, you can arrange to wipe them down with a disinfectant and leave them outside the door.) If you are in an area which has tighter restrictions, or if you or a family member is at high risk, giving a monetary donation is also a great way to go. 2. Continue to meet with other Christians remotely Many people have expressed discomfort with the thought of not meeting with other Christians. After all, meeting with other believers is a huge part of the Christian life. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24–25 Now more than ever, they say, we need to meet together and pray. I absolutely agree—but perhaps meeting in person isn’t the best way to do that. Though God can, and does, work miracles, he also gave us medical knowledge in much greater abundance than any previous generation has had. Along with this medical knowledge—like how disease is spread—he has put us in a time when we have efficient remote communication, like video chatting, live streaming, social media, and good ol’ telephones. While not a long-term solution, it’s a great way to stay in touch for a few weeks and will allow us to continue to spur one another on. God doesn’t stop the consequences of a sinful world from affecting us, but he does provide for our needs in incredible ways. Having unprecedented medical knowledge and real-time, remote communication at our literal fingertips seems like an answer to prayer. Through it, we can meet with each other without spreading this wildly-contagious disease. 3. Find productive ways to use your time It’s only natural that you may be feeling a bit cabin-feverish by this point, but there’s no reason to be bored. Many people have already figured out that this is a great time to connect to their families or call old friends. Beyond that, there are many incredible ways to serve, or prepare ourselves to serve. In this digital age, we have most of the world’s information in just a few clicks—not to mention the books lying around home. This is a fantastic time to read and study, enabling you to serve others better. You can study the Bible, or find a devotional book or website, or research various organizations which you can get involved with after restrictions are lifted. I think writers have it easy—we connect with people straight from our homes on a regular basis. But that isn’t limited to writers by any means. There is an unimaginable number of ways to get involved online—all a few clicks and keystrokes away. You can collaborate with your friends on projects, support fundraisers, offer encouraging words, and so many other things. All it takes is a bit of determination. God has given us time on earth. We should be good stewards of that time, using it to follow his will and tell others of his incredible love. Even in quarantine, we can spread his love.
4 Comments
Bucky-George DeWhite
3/31/2020 01:29:34 pm
Good post (lol wrote “God post”, which is also true I guess ..)! I’ve been putting in some extra time volunteering at school, trying to help get stuff in order for next term while lots of the staff are away!!
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4/18/2020 01:25:32 pm
"MAKE an instrument." Love it! XD
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Jenny Chasteen
3/31/2020 02:54:00 pm
Thanks for the practical, rational thoughts, Rachel. It's a good reminder that even though we can't do what we normally do, we can still do things that are worthwhile!
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4/18/2020 01:26:52 pm
I'm glad you enjoyed reading this! Yes, we can absolutely do worthwhile things—and thankfully, over the past two weeks, more and more people are getting on board with that. I love seeing people getting involved!
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About meHi, I'm Rachel. I write adventure stories, but I can't let my characters have all the adventures. Archives
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