We're all fighting the same battle against the same enemy.
No need to rehash the current situation. We all know where we are and why we're here. Though our particular circumstances may vary, the fact remains that the entire human race is all on the same team battling the same opponent. Yes, Coronavirus might be the immediate situation and advanced technology and social media might be the tangible way by which we are united but there's something else here thats bigger than all that.
On Friday afternoon I sat across the kitchen island from my three young boys fielding questions about why they would be out of school for the next month (or more). I tried my best to dance this precarious dance that all parents find themselves in at this moment, between giving enough truth to help them understand while at the same time not striking an unnecessary burden of fear in their young hearts. In the end I tried to give a moment of clarity and hope to them.
"It's actually a really fascinating scenario if you're able to step back from it and give it some thought", I explained. " For the first time in my lifetime and probably for a long long time before that, all of the people in the world who are usually very occupied with battling against each other, now find themselves on the same team battling the same enemy. In that way, its kind of beautiful, we're all united."
"What do you mean, mom?" The oldest asked.
"Well" I said. "Nobody; regardless of race, creed, ethnicity, location, gender, age or political affiliation, nobody, wants this virus to win."
Then the 5 year old chimed in.
"Thats not true mom. The devil wants it to win. But don't worry, Jesus can heal it.
I chuckled and continued slicing apples and our 'world peace' conversation quickly morphed into fighting about what movie we would watch that night and how many bowls of popcorn we should have. But his comment got me thinking. Who's the real enemy here?
As I've watched this week play out on social media I've noticed a few things. First, a lot of people are still really good at heart. It never fails that times of hardship bring out the best in humanity. People, when forced to focus on what really matters and faced with suffering and mortality, shine with generosity and selflessness. This current trial is no exception; neighbor helping neighbor (at a safe distance of course), companies donating services, individuals donating money and resources, spiritual leaders risking illness to take care of their flocks, ordinary people protecting the most vulnerable among us. The list never ends and I'm here for every minute of it. Second, because of social media it's like a big weird reality show that we're all a part of. Don't get me wrong, for the first time in maybe ever I'm truly thankful for Facebook because we get to watch it all play out. But, with the numerous instances of beauty and hope there are infinite opportunities for evil to get in the cracks.
The fact is this is a horrible scenario that we're in with no clear source to blame. We'd rather not be here. We'd rather not be inconvenienced and quarantined and stuck. We'd rather not have our healthcare professionals risking their health and lives and working ungodly hours to get us through, we'd rather not have to ration our toilet paper. And yet, here we are, homeschooling and rationing. But, as I wrote to my students earlier this week. On the other side of this, we will be changed, one way or another. There is an incredible opportunity here, in the midst of this great fermata of inconvenience and fear, to cling to the things that make us better and to let them do just that. How many times have we wished for things to slow down, to have more time with our families, for an extra day or two to just rest or read or fix the leaky faucet in the guest bath or the damaged parts of our hearts? Here we are faced with ample opportunity for virtue; a worldwide pause button that yes, will have economic and physical ramifications that we cannot yet know fully, but that also might be the very balm that heals the darkest parts of us. To be honest, in the first few days I saw many signs of just that. In that space, when we all fight a common enemy, we join together in a new way and hope abounds and we are victorious. The devil, quite honestly, does not want this to happen. As the time goes on, our charity will turn in on itself. Our patience with our family, our children, our government officials, will run out. Our ability to see the good in those suffering and to make space for them will tighten. We will bicker and nitpick, we will hurt each other and begin to fight again. Because if the devil can't steal our hearts by pitting a horrible worldwide virus against us, he will get us by turning us against one another, masked with the facade of charity, or church law or social distancing or self preservation we will turn on each other. We always do.
But, as Pope Francis reminds us, "God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy." When we inevitably find ourselves in that moment we need not dig in and run headlong into our own sin. All we need to do is be aware of the real enemy here and be reminded again that we are all on the same team, not for the first time but since the beginning of time, not against a virus, but against the evil one who wants nothing more than our demise at any expense. He is resourceful and he will use what we let him; statistics, public policy, law, toilet paper, opinions about how we should worship, who should have access to what, who holds the remote, who's turn it is to pick the movie, or even how many bowls of popcorn we should make.
Over these next many weeks of 'social distancing' (and for the rest of our lives) we will fail repeatedly; in our homes, in our jobs, in our online interactions. We will say and hold opinions that we later realize are misguided. We will lose ourshit temper. We will get frustrated at those we love and later realize we were wrong. We will take things from others who need them more than we do. We will unnecessarily judge those who's scenario we cannot understand. We WILL mess up. We will fall short. The question is, what will we do when those moments come? I'm no expert in virtue but I am an expert in messing up. My advice, for what its worth, is to take a step back, evaluate your own shortcomings, admit when you are wrong (even if when it hurts) and apologize early and often. Seek forgiveness; with your brother AND with God. Because the real battle here is with evil, and the problem is not with not enough social distancing...it's with too much spiritual distancing. The good news is; in this death to ourselves, in the end, we win this battle, whether we beat Corona or not, we are victorious because we know THE victor.
Be good to each other, world. Repent. Forgive. Get better and lets be one big happy family (but, you know at a minimum 6 foot distance and in groups of 10 or less.)
On Friday afternoon I sat across the kitchen island from my three young boys fielding questions about why they would be out of school for the next month (or more). I tried my best to dance this precarious dance that all parents find themselves in at this moment, between giving enough truth to help them understand while at the same time not striking an unnecessary burden of fear in their young hearts. In the end I tried to give a moment of clarity and hope to them.
"It's actually a really fascinating scenario if you're able to step back from it and give it some thought", I explained. " For the first time in my lifetime and probably for a long long time before that, all of the people in the world who are usually very occupied with battling against each other, now find themselves on the same team battling the same enemy. In that way, its kind of beautiful, we're all united."
"What do you mean, mom?" The oldest asked.
"Well" I said. "Nobody; regardless of race, creed, ethnicity, location, gender, age or political affiliation, nobody, wants this virus to win."
Then the 5 year old chimed in.
"Thats not true mom. The devil wants it to win. But don't worry, Jesus can heal it.
I chuckled and continued slicing apples and our 'world peace' conversation quickly morphed into fighting about what movie we would watch that night and how many bowls of popcorn we should have. But his comment got me thinking. Who's the real enemy here?
As I've watched this week play out on social media I've noticed a few things. First, a lot of people are still really good at heart. It never fails that times of hardship bring out the best in humanity. People, when forced to focus on what really matters and faced with suffering and mortality, shine with generosity and selflessness. This current trial is no exception; neighbor helping neighbor (at a safe distance of course), companies donating services, individuals donating money and resources, spiritual leaders risking illness to take care of their flocks, ordinary people protecting the most vulnerable among us. The list never ends and I'm here for every minute of it. Second, because of social media it's like a big weird reality show that we're all a part of. Don't get me wrong, for the first time in maybe ever I'm truly thankful for Facebook because we get to watch it all play out. But, with the numerous instances of beauty and hope there are infinite opportunities for evil to get in the cracks.
The fact is this is a horrible scenario that we're in with no clear source to blame. We'd rather not be here. We'd rather not be inconvenienced and quarantined and stuck. We'd rather not have our healthcare professionals risking their health and lives and working ungodly hours to get us through, we'd rather not have to ration our toilet paper. And yet, here we are, homeschooling and rationing. But, as I wrote to my students earlier this week. On the other side of this, we will be changed, one way or another. There is an incredible opportunity here, in the midst of this great fermata of inconvenience and fear, to cling to the things that make us better and to let them do just that. How many times have we wished for things to slow down, to have more time with our families, for an extra day or two to just rest or read or fix the leaky faucet in the guest bath or the damaged parts of our hearts? Here we are faced with ample opportunity for virtue; a worldwide pause button that yes, will have economic and physical ramifications that we cannot yet know fully, but that also might be the very balm that heals the darkest parts of us. To be honest, in the first few days I saw many signs of just that. In that space, when we all fight a common enemy, we join together in a new way and hope abounds and we are victorious. The devil, quite honestly, does not want this to happen. As the time goes on, our charity will turn in on itself. Our patience with our family, our children, our government officials, will run out. Our ability to see the good in those suffering and to make space for them will tighten. We will bicker and nitpick, we will hurt each other and begin to fight again. Because if the devil can't steal our hearts by pitting a horrible worldwide virus against us, he will get us by turning us against one another, masked with the facade of charity, or church law or social distancing or self preservation we will turn on each other. We always do.
But, as Pope Francis reminds us, "God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy." When we inevitably find ourselves in that moment we need not dig in and run headlong into our own sin. All we need to do is be aware of the real enemy here and be reminded again that we are all on the same team, not for the first time but since the beginning of time, not against a virus, but against the evil one who wants nothing more than our demise at any expense. He is resourceful and he will use what we let him; statistics, public policy, law, toilet paper, opinions about how we should worship, who should have access to what, who holds the remote, who's turn it is to pick the movie, or even how many bowls of popcorn we should make.
Over these next many weeks of 'social distancing' (and for the rest of our lives) we will fail repeatedly; in our homes, in our jobs, in our online interactions. We will say and hold opinions that we later realize are misguided. We will lose our
Be good to each other, world. Repent. Forgive. Get better and lets be one big happy family (but, you know at a minimum 6 foot distance and in groups of 10 or less.)
Perfect, Amy!! Beautifully articulated, smart woman. I agree with every word.
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