Contagious Thoughts 2

On this morning's news, we saw that the number of deaths from COVID-19 in the USA stands at 9,653. My mind could only deal with that reality by looking at the last digit in the four-figure statistic--the number "three."

Each of those three was a real person with a system of friends, family and co-workers affected by their death. Three voices will never be heard again, they will never again write, or sing, or call, or touch. I allow my mind to cope with more--almost ten thousand people's unique gifts left this earth with them. The ugliness and brutality of this disease's destruction shocks and breaks my heart.

A giant marches the forest of earth, and humanity scatters before his feet like bugs beneath leafy loam. He doesn't care whom he crushes, what life his steps snuff out, he does not discriminate, there is no weighing of factors.

But of course, we aren't quite as helpless as my imagined bugs. We know that the giant exists, and his steps aren't entirely random. We are regrouping in places of safety and finding ways to connect, communicate, and source our necessary food. We are adapting and adjusting!

We are learning, too, to have faith despite circumstances, and to put our faith to the test.

Do we really trust that God is our provider and not the stock market? Can we step out of thinking only practically, and be radically generous with what we have, trusting God for our tomorrows? Can we act as though we believe what we say we do with no "buts?"

For each of us, these questions are personal and have different applications, but they pose a challenge and an opportunity.

Never look down to test the ground before taking your next step. Only he who keeps his eye fixed on the far horizon will find his right road.

Dag Hammarskjold