Reflections

In the past few months, many of us, believers and non-believers, have asked the question, 'Where is God in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic?" When we are challenged with an individual, family, community, nation and or world situation that causes us to feel powerless, confused, afraid, sad, and/or angry, perhaps we need to look beyond the question, "Where is God in this?" At this point, many of us in the Christian community are reflecting on what Jesus might do in our current situation.

Jesus of Nazareth was born into a world of illness where the flu, a bad cold, an infected wound or an abscessed tooth could kill. The 'solution' for leprosy was social isolation and forced quarantine. Regardless, it is likely that Jesus would try to lead us to be hopeful and see this as an opportunity to be amazed, be grateful and be empathetic. We can all join in being amazed, regardless of faith or spirituality, as we witness our health care workers, EMTs and hospital staff rising above fear, risking their lives to save an unknown brother or sister. Beyond amazing, is their willingness to go on day after day not only in the practice of care but also as they support the dying in place of family not able to be present. The commitment beyond self is huge. When New York put out a plea for health care workers from around the nation, 90,000 practitioners responded. There is hope in humanity.

We can be so thankful that our current coalition of state and local leaders, hired staff and volunteers have been tireless in threading their way through the unknown to develop policies and response plans to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and respond to active cases. All has not been perfect or convenient. However, who could expect a clear path in building a response to a highly contagious, lethal disease of unknown origin and pathology. Our state and local leaders have been patient in the face of criticism, diligent in the face of scarcity and brave in the face of the unknown.

Once again, we are given hope in humanity. Finally, this pandemic has made us much more aware of the opportunity and given us the time to literally "practice" empathy and caring for others. In addition to helping others, researchers suggest this is a good way to fight our own very real and prevalent feelings of isolation and despair. Key are social distancing, wearing a mask in public and washing and wiping.

We can take action by checking on neighbors beyond family and your own social/spiritual circle, helping children with school work, supporting local businesses by buying a gift certificate to use at a later time, devising ways to show gratitude to people whose job makes them vulnerable (grocery store employees, bank tellers, hospital staff, etc.), supporting the Salvation Army, Senior Center, St. Francis Animal Rescue and/or other stressed non-profit organizations and devising our own methods of showing gratitude and caring. Being a part of giving hope in humanity strengthens us as individuals, a community and a nation.

Joan Sargent

Island of Faith Lutheran ChurchWrangell Ministerial Association