Reading in an Age of Corona: Online book sales are up 400 percent this week, with a “notable interest in challenging classics.” Let me suggest some challenging Christian classics for your consideration. Prefer nonfiction? The City of God, Mere Christianity, Celebration of Discipline, or With Christ in the School of Prayer. Favor Fiction? Robinson Crusoe, Uncle Tom’s Cabin,The Chronicles of Narnia, Les Misérables or The Lord of the Rings.
If you prefer articles: Here is an article on prayer from a back issue of National Review. Here are my notes from a recent Tim Keller lecture, and here is an Andrew Sullivan piece on loneliness and COVID.
Lewis and Screwtape on COVID: My Dear Wormwood, Plagues are a most effective weapon given to us by our father below. Normally, Christians are quite comfortable in receiving the dreaded sacraments and gathering in their prayers and other heinous Arts. But if you can stir up a hysteria by means of a plague so that they cut themselves off from our enemies’ gifts to them, the torment of isolation will drive them to despair and season them quite deliciously much to our delight. Get them to forget about their usual practices of prayer, fasting, and alms giving and encourage them to become gluttons, slanderers, and lose all regard for their neighbor thinking only about themselves and their immediate needs. Storing up treasures which we can send moth and rust to destroy further sweetening their torment. If you can, help them to redefine their usual words like “church” and “fellowship” and “ministry” so that they feel comfortable cutting themselves off from our enemies care and they can be tempted all the more. Yes, Wormwood, a plague is a tried and true method of taking their eyes off our enemy and getting them to worship their own bodies. A most desirable position for we tempters. Never let a good crisis go to waste! Your Affectionate Uncle, Screwtape
- During the days immediately following 9/11, many thought things would be forever different. Martin Marty argued the terrorist attack was more like an earthquake – i.e., we would likely put things back they way they were. Will COVID follow the 9/11 path, or will it – to use Marty terminology – be a glacier and permanently alter the terrain?
- The lock down has led one friend to suggest “in nine months, two groups will be very busy: obstetricians and divorce lawyers.” Sheri and I are hoping we’ll need neither.
- After talking with a friend who is also a pastor, I realized that in addition to caring for families who lose a loved one to COVID-19, we will also be caring for those who believe they infected the deceased.
- What we are actually being called to is physical – not social – distancing. We need as much relational and spiritual connection with others as we can get.
- Finally, on a much lighter note, you do not want to miss Neil Diamond’s contribution to the fight against COVID-19. Yes, that Neil Diamond.
A Kubler-Ross Review: It’s worth reviewing Kübler Ross’s stages of grief, as we may need to recognize them in ourselves: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance.
Closing Prayer: As with last week, I am citing a modern prayer that seems timely. All authority is Yours, but you have given authority to leaders to protect and guide us. Today, we ask that You would give all our leaders wisdom, discernment, strength, and resolve. Keep them healthy, safe, and rested so that they can continue to guide us through this troubling time.
- Give our government leaders wisdom about what needs to be done to stop the virus and stabilize our economy.
- Give our spiritual leaders Your discernment on how to meet people’s needs as they continue to glorify Your name and encourage the Church.
- Give our medical leaders insight into how to stop the virus. Strengthen their resolve and honor their hard work in creating a treatment for COVID-19.
- Give our civic leaders inspiration, courage, joy, and strength to meet the needs of their communities.
And help us as leaders in our communities to display courage, hope, generosity, and kindness. Would the way we honor others inspire those around us. Amen.