The difference between being scared and smart is often the difference between success and failure. Being too afraid to go forward, to not carry on, to not try, to cower in the corner, assures failure. But success going forward requires being smart, which is usually the long-term lens of wisdom which is sometimes a slower process.
The problem is we like our fast paced, hot, fast and now, instant gratification, convenient lifestyle and culture. We don’t like to be inconvenienced or annoyed, which the Corona Virus has done. The Corona Virus inconveniences and annoys us individually if we’ve contracted it, and as a society because of all the schools, businesses, theatres, restaurants, churches and gym closures, just to name a few things that annoy me. Imagine all this “free time” and nowhere to go!
All this “Social Distancing” is what every introverted person loves but drives every extroverted person crazy. That’s the overall, global impact of the Corona Virus pandemic. Even if you don’t contract if physically, you’re still impacted, inconvenienced and annoyed by it socially. Therefore, either individually, physically or socially, we’re all affected by the Corona Virus.
Somewhere between being scared or smart is the balance of 2Timothy 1:7, “God has not given us a spirit of fear but of love power and a sound mind” and the wisdom of Proverbs 22:3, 27:12, “The prudent see danger and avoid it. But the simple go forward and suffer for it.” So don't be afraid but move forward slowly and carefully. Show wisdom.
So for now maybe this "Social Distancing" and society slow down and shutdown, while annoying and inconvenient, is wisdom. As it’s our grandparents and those with asthma and emphysema, and those who’ll need hospitals that we, as a society and individually, need to be mindful of and protect as best we can, by minimizing the potential spread of the virus.
Wisdom is not surrendering courage to cowering in the corners and under the couches in fear. Wisdom and courage is knowing and trusting God is still on the throne. God is still in control and isn’t surprised by any of this. God saw it coming before we did. And wants us to draw closer to him during this time. While it's great to gather together, you don't need to in order to pray, read the Bible, or worship God and listen to his Spirit speak to you saying, “Calm down. I'm right here with you. I'm gonna get you through this too”. And there's plenty of churches to watch online, until we can all get back together again.
Smart people are working on the fix, the vaccine, the cure. The stock market will come back as it did after 2008 and as it did after 911 2001. Schools, restaurants, theatres, churches and gyms will open again, as will pro sports teams, hopefully, probably sooner rather than later. Maybe within a few weeks if not a month. And we will all say we got through this Corona Virus pandemic, like we have other crisis in the past, balanced with the courage and wisdom of our faith and trust in God, if not temporarily inconvenienced and annoyed just a little in life.
Blessings
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