Readings for today: Psalms 56, 120, 140, 141, 142
One of the real issues the COVID-19 virus is exposing is our lack of resiliency on a number of levels. There is the lack of physical resiliency. Because this a “novel” virus, we lack any kind of natural immunity to it which makes it far more contagious and deadlier than other viruses that have been in circulation for a while. There is a lack of mental resiliency. The number of calls to mental health hotlines has increased exponentially as people struggle with the isolating effects of the quarantine. There is a lack of emotional resiliency. People are far more reactive than proactive and this crisis has only exacerbated the problem. There is a lack of spiritual resiliency. Even among Christians. The superficial, self-help, moral therapeutic deism the American church has been peddling for too long simply doesn’t offer enough hope to endure suffering and death on this level. Add to this the lack of resiliency in our communities as social connections have frayed due to the extreme busyness of our former, pre-COVID lives and one can easily see why we find ourselves in such a panic.
Now read the Psalms. Keep in mind the conditions David was dealing with. On the run from his king. Unjustly accused. Persecuted without reason. Captured by the Philistines. Having to pretend he’s gone mad in order to escape. Living in caves in the desolate wilderness. Surviving off what he can scavenge. Fighting running battles off and on for seven long years. It’s a terrifying, stressful, and often brutal existence. Listen to how he describes it as he prays…
“Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me; all day long an attacker oppresses me; my enemies trample on me all day long, for many attack me proudly.” (Psalm 56:1-2)
“Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar! Too long have I had my dwelling among those who hate peace.” (Psalm 120:5-6)
“Guard me, O Lord, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from violent men, who have planned to trip up my feet. The arrogant have hidden a trap for me, and with cords they have spread a net; beside the way they have set snares for me.” (Psalm 140:4-5)
“Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low! Deliver me from my persecutors, for they are too strong for me! Bring me out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name! The righteous will surround me, for you will deal bountifully with me.” (Psalm 142:6-7)
Medical experts tell us resiliency is built up over time. It is built up as we intentionally expose ourselves to discomfort and pain and suffering. One day a vaccine will be created for COVID-19. Many of us will be inoculated with a weakened form of the virus in order to boost our immune systems. By exposing our physical bodies to the disease, we will build up our strength to fight it off in the future. The same is true for us mentally, emotionally, spiritually, even communally. For far too long, we have believed the lie that we can live our lives without pain. We’ve bought into the false notion that suffering is to be avoided at all costs. We refuse to endure discomfort. Refuse to accept anything less than complete and unconditional affirmation for everything we say and do. We reject any critique or judgment of our lifestyle. We’ve tried to socially engineer failure out of existence by making sure everyone gets a trophy. To what end? We live in the wealthiest, most technologically advanced nation on earth and our biggest fear seems to be boredom. Adjusting to working from home. Teaching our children. Time spent in solitude and silence. Don’t we realize what we seemingly fear the most is simply real, everyday life in most of the rest of the world? So many of my friends who live in deep poverty around the globe are very confused by what they are seeing and hearing from the West these days. They ask me all kinds of questions like “why is teaching your child considered a burden?” “Why is working from home so challenging when you have a job that makes you more money in a year than my people might see in a lifetime?” “Why is life so exhausting when you sit in a chair all day, staring at a computer screen?” I am humbled by their honest, heartfelt questions. They are not seeking to condemn, just understand. What they do not grasp is that the difficulty of their daily lives has built in them a strength and resiliency we simply lack. Our relative wealth and leisure has weakened us to the point where we are far more susceptible to fear and anxiety. Far more sensitive to pain and suffering. Far more vulnerable to panic and alarm.
Please hear my heart. I don’t say these things out of judgment. I am not trying to shame anyone or add to the already heavy burdens we are carrying. I don’t want to minimize the very real trauma that is happening. People are losing jobs. People are getting sick. People are dying. Loved ones are suffering. All of these things are very real. As a pastor, I am deeply engaged in this fight. But I do think our lack of resiliency is worth pondering and praying over. I do think we’re called to reflect deeply on the words of the Psalmist and let his faith inform our faith during this season of crisis. As we endure. As we persevere. As we seek to serve Christ and our communities. I trust the Spirit will build in us a deep resiliency that will serve us well far into the future.
Readings for tomorrow: 1 Samuel 25-27, Psalms 17, 73