I read a very helpful post last week about “Christians and Pandemics through the Ages” [1] Even if you’re not a person of faith in God, there’s a lot to be gained from the author’s 3 recommendations -  Think – Love – Thank.  Here’s what I’ve been reflecting on from that post:

Think

“Fear and panic are enemies of clear-thinking. They are fuelled by adrenaline, the flight-or-flight response, the instinct for self-preservation. They [don’t] doesn’t analyse or evaluate; they just react.”

Sometimes we need to let our emotions catch up to and be re-shaped by logic and facts.  If we’re Christians, the imperative for us is to let the gospel of Jesus, the things we know to be true, shape how we respond to a crisis rather than just react.  

Grace leads us away from being ruled by our ‘passions’ and towards self-controlled, godly conduct .(Titus 2:12; Romans 12:2)

So breathe. Don’t panic. Don’t fear, for God is with us through difficulty (Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 46:7-11).

The internet has revolutionised the sharing and gathering of information.  Analysts and epidemiologists can instantly gather statistics and get a clearer picture of what a virus is and how it spreads. However, as we know, not all online information is true or helpful. Sure it’s a great space to explore ideas, discuss and push against government decisions. When we read something alarming we want to share the information because we think it might help others. But there’s plenty out there that’s just unfounded, false, speculative and based on fearmongering. So instead of responding with carefully considered concern (a thinking response), we react with unreasoned panic. 

I’ve taken 3 steps to help me think before I share information:

1.     Before I press “like” and “share”, I’ve decided to click the “stop and think” tab in my brain.

2.     And while stopping and thinking, I ask myself questions like:

·      Is this based on fact?   Here’s a helpful post on Spotting Fake News

·      What damage could this do if it’s not true?

On the Coronavirus, I really appreciate videos by Dr Norman Swan because he analyses the current crisis by helping us think through – what is clear – what is known and unknown – what is theory – what is probable.  Here’s an example Coronavirus Reality Check

But it’s not just about what we post online. It’s also about group conversations in whatever form they take. If we feel passionate about something, before sharing the concern, a thinking response should start with questions like: ‘Is it the right place to share it?’  ‘Am I sharing it just for my own benefit and will it have a negative effect on others?’  ‘Could it raise panic in others which is unnecessary? Could it cause division in the group and then isolate people during a time when we need to pulling together and people are already fragile?’  My experience is that we rarely stop to think and ask ourselves these questions. But it’s easy to justify what we say on the basis of “I need someone to download to.” I agree, we need friends to talk to when we’re upset, but it’s worth thinking about whether a group setting is in the best interests of everyone in the group.

 Discrimination is another example of the desperate need to think. Just this week I heard that people given the responsibility of running an organisation for the benefit of its members, referred to me and my Christian friends as “the God squad” saying we’re only doing well in our group because of our Christian connections.  Well, they might intend it as an insult, but I’ve chosen to take it as a compliment.  In the current crisis, a whole lot worse is being said about people. Here a just a few examples: one Asian friend wondered if she was being coughed on a lot lately. It wasn’t until she heard someone say “Yeah let’s cough on Asians” that she was being coughed on because she’s Asian – as if somehow that was a pay back to her because the virus is believed to have started in China! Then another friend said that she was sitting on the train and heard someone say “Don’t sit there, they’re Asian and they’ve probably got the virus.”

 But here’s the thing. Yes, it’s helpful to investigate how and where the virus started. Yes, it’s right to look for what contributed to the virus spreading. Yes, it’s good to teach people how to change their behaviour so that the virus doesn’t keep spreading.  But history will tell you, nothing good comes out of blaming a whole race of people. It’s very unlikely that anyone who hears the “God squad” comment will pull them up for it.  But we need to be different. We need to think and speak out against prejudice based on race, gender, ethnicity or religion.

 As a final thought on this, remember every single one of us could be carrying the virus and spread it to others unknowingly. How terrible will we feel if people ostracise us or label us as the “Coronavirus person.”  Thinkingwill lead us to show the kind of compassion, acceptance and tolerance we want others to show us.

Love

“Just as fear is the enemy of clear-thinking, it is also the enemy of love.

‘Perfect love drives out fear’ (1 John 4:18)”

I felt the rising fear when I went to the supermarket this week and there was no pasta on the shelf!  No pasta! And no flour to make pasta! How can an Italian live without pasta?!  No tinned food either.  No Panadol or neurofen.  I wondered if I should buy other things that are going to start disappearing soon. I had to stop and think. Greed isn’t the way to respond.  Stockpiling just makes people panic more. Love is the way to respond. Living in a community means considering the needs of others as well as my own.  Jesus loved me like that and then some.

I arrived home the other day as a storm was approaching to see a young man outside my driveway looking quite distressed at the whole bumper bar and radiator grill hanging off his car, trying to call roadside assistance.  My first reaction was to think “Don’t stop, it’s dangerous to get near people.”  But then I remembered how Jesus has treated me with so much kindness.  So, I wound down my window and asked him if he needed help.  He said “What do you call the front of the car?  They can’t understand what I’m telling them about my car.” I thought about my sons and how I would want people to help them if they were stuck on a road somewhere.  We worked out the car parts terminology and I offered our garage for him to shelter in if it rained.

On Sunday a friend was telling me that she’s going to lose her job this week and won’t be able to pay the rent.  I asked if she needs somewhere to stay and she said “No, three people at church have already said I could move in with them.” 

Thank

Today, more than any previous generation, we have so much available to us to help us deal with sickness and pandemics.  We have more medicine, hospitals, nurses and doctors, pathology, access to supermarkets.  Even in the midst of a terrible crisis, we can be thankful. And it’s good for us too.

“The practice of gratitude does have a number of beneficial side-effects. Gratitude is enormously important for psychological health. It cultivates emotional well-being and a positive disposition towards life as a whole. It is an important part of facing difficulty well. Gratitude also helps put us in a good place to exercise clear thinking and love toward others (points 1&2). Gratitude focuses our attention on what we still have, which helps us think clearly about life. It reinforces that we are people who have received the benefits of God’s love, and it empowers us to love others in return.”

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” James 1:17

I’m incredibly sad that the elderly in Italy have been left to die alone without their family during this crisis.  But I’m also so very thankful that at the moment, children are not being as hard hit by the virus.  I’m thankful for teachers who are willing to keep working so that children can be at school allowing parents to work in hospitals and stock the supermarket shelves and drive the trucks that deliver the groceries etc. I’m thankful for hospitals and a government and opposition that are working together to bring the spread of the Coronavirus under control in our nation.

I sent a text to the aged care workers this week who help look after my Mum who lives with us saying “Do you still want to come and look after my Mum today?” I recognise that it’s risky for them to come into the homes of strangers and caring for an elderly person carries risk.  But straight away the answer came back “Of course, I’m coming to help you care for your Mum.”  I want to say thank you to Aged Care workers. 

Think – Love – Thank.  Three helpful responses to the COVID19 crisis. Of course, as a Christian who believes Jesus has opened up the way for me to be able to talk to God, there’s also - Pray.  But that’s a discussion for another post.

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[1] http://stretchtheology.com/christians-and-pandemics-through-the-ages-260-1347-1665-2020/?fbclid=IwAR1e8aEvTbKtsrC-MQQJ_GZRBjvOyJW8UB1ASCm3OxqLf6VRCyCKhC3v1JA