As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) sweeps across our country, confining us to another month at home, some have asked me, “Are we on the verge of a spiritual awakening?”
There are some hopeful signs.
In many ways, we now are doing the very things we should have been doing all along: Spending time with our families, sharing meals, talking to our neighbors, helping one another and taking long walks outside (while maintaining social distancing of course).
And there are other hopeful trends. For example, some distilleries are stepping in and producing hand sanitizer instead of booze. It reminds me of the verse that says, “They will beat their swords into plowshares” (Isaiah 2:4). But instead, it appears we are turning our scotch into sanitizer and our piña coladas into Purell!
I also have heard good news on several fronts: fewer abortions are being performed, and crime rates in some parts of the country have plummeted since the stay-at-home orders were issued.
These are all good things, but then there is the unthinkable tragedy of people dying every day from COVID-19. It is this very thing, the fear of death, the acknowledgment of the fragility of life, that has been a wake-up call for many.
In some ways, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced people to consider the afterlife and their relationship with God by knocking down all our false gods.
For people that worshipped sports, the stadiums are closed and no games are being played.
For others who idolized musicians, the civic centers are closed and the concerts are canceled.
For those that had such fawning admiration for actors, the theaters are shuttered and no new films are coming.
For even others who bowed at the altar of money, the stock market is generally down and …
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