Covid-19 is causing lots of people to act irrationally. The act of preparedness is at an all-time high. People are buying stacks of toilet paper, bleach, food, and ammunition. This situation is surreal. It feels like we’re in an apocalyptic movie or my husband’s favorite show, the Walking Dead, which, I am unable to watch because it gives me nightmares right now. Suffice it to say my anxiety is running high.
I’ve tried turning off the news and unplugging from social media, however, the need to be informed keeps drawing me back. As I write this, Love Struck Café’, which is a Hallmark movie that I like is currently playing. I’ve been very intentional in watching programming that uplifts me rather than brings me down. A constant diet of watching the news with its constant reporting of doom and gloom can be rather unsettling. A shutdown is inevitable yet, so many people it seems didn’t seem to think it was possible. Two weeks ago, I would’ve thought the same thing, however, once the schools closed, I knew it was inevitable. Unfortunately, in order to stop the virus from spreading, society has to distance itself from each other. For the extrovert in me, the idea is maddening.
The atmosphere of panic is intense and palpable. Grocery Stores and pharmacy shelves are bare. Restaurants, bars and other public places of entertainment and escape are closing including churches. What will we do for fun? How about read a book or catch up on all the Netflix programming. There are so many shows it’d probably take us a year to get caught up. How will we worship? How about cracking open our bibles and bible apps and spending time in quiet study of the word in the presence of God. Who are these people that I live with? Hey maybe that’s your family or your spouse, partner, etc., however, you may identify. Guess what! You are going to have to communicate. Interestingly, we’ll all have to have one on one conversations with the people closest to us. Honestly, I think that’s what scares people more than anything.
I’ll be frank the virus is scary, but, what scares me more than anything is the people that will panic and act out violently. Also, if I’m brutally candid the sheer amount of callous, greed, and self-centered behavior in policies designed to help people is utterly preposterous. As a Christian, I know that God is in control, yet, I also know that the devil is busy. This is where I must lean on my faith and trust that God will provide a way and keep us safe during this difficult time.
I encourage each of you who is reading this to do what you need to do to make sure that you take care of your mental health. Eat your vegetables, take your vitamins, drink water, stay hydrated, get lots of rest, and pray. Take this time to work on a home project or simply slow down. Let’s not let fear overtake us. Step up to Faith and watch God work. Remember, this too shall pass.