I am being stretched … daily. I am discovering how very self-oriented I can be when focused on the needs of my own family.
Throughout the past weeks of concern for my daughters, Elyse and Meghan, individually facing the challenges of COVID 19, I listened to the nightly news through a filter of one-sided perspective. Now that the breathless threat of an unseen enemy has eased its grip on my beloved ones’ lives, I am listening to news through a different grid.
Last night, I was deeply impacted by the gripping reality of worldwide devastation. The economic toll of this pandemic is stunningly catastrophic. Beyond the turmoil of financial markets and the ever increasing data of sickness and death, literally every human being will reap the ravages of this virus in one way or another, before the story is over.
The newly homeless seek sleep and shelter on near vacant subway trains in New York City. The first time jobless are desperate for unemployment compensation. Day laborers are unable to work, feed or care for their families, having lost medical insurance. Enthusiastic new college grads face little hope of employment in a deeply depressed economy. College freshman remain unsure if they will resume their education come fall. Young families, recently forced into bewildering home schooling routines are anxious about whether school will reopen in the fall. School teachers, librarians, restaurant workers, professional athletes, salon stylists are among the many unemployed who anticipate that when they DO return to work that their environment may be RADICALLY different! The economies of nearly all countries are crashing and global recession is spoken of with certainty. Internationally, there are reported millions of hopeless refugees crammed into countless ‘camps’ literally awaiting expected catastrophic outbreaks of COVID. DESOLATION! The devastating pain is everywhere when I open my eyes to see it.
How must I respond? I want nothing to do with blindly burying my head in the sand accompanied by a smug, “Whew, WE dodged THAT bullet!” My life has experienced the pain and concern of COVID 19. I have felt the impotence and experienced the incapacity to come to the side of one I loved in the throes of the viral attack. I have tasted the fear and felt breathless as I listened to the emotional tsunami of the numbers and the toll.
I want what we have experienced to make a difference not only in my life, but in my response to the pain of others’ lives. Yes there is overwhelmingly desperate need right now. The temptation is to let the enormity of the task render me powerless. There ARE things I can do. There ARE lives that I can touch and have a real impact. There ARE ways that I can share a portion of what I have to encourage a few. And THAT is what I must do.
That, and keep on praying. At no point in this span of months has my God lost control of the situation. He cares more about these devastating numbers than we do. He loves this world and cares deeply about each and every person impacted by this virus. He fully comprehends where these numbers are going, and knows those that are yet to be impacted by its vicious onslaught.
God IS blessing in the midst of the devastation. And He wants to love and encourage this world through me! That is how I will respond to the overwhelm. That is how I MUST respond! So help me God!