This, too, shall pass

I started this blog two-plus years ago to deal with the emotional fallout of my divorce. I named it My Careless Contagion because I felt I infected those around me with sadness. But I want to talk about a contagion of a different sort in this post. For months, I have stayed silent while the specter of coronavirus has cast a long shadow over our planet. What follows are my opinions only, though I have followed this disease closely since the beginning.  

Pandemics have routinely ravaged the planet, killing millions and rearranging civilization in their wake. At this moment, people are referencing the Spanish Flu which killed an estimated 50-100 million people 100 years ago. The fact that we don't know how many actually died is not inconsistent with pandemics, as bodies are normally disposed of in haste and if whole villages die, who is left to count the dead? Satellite images of mass graves laced with lime in Iran have hammered this point home. Are they counting the dead or just getting rid of bodies? 

The truth is, we don't know how many people have died. Do we really trust China and Iran — two countries with a crappy track record for telling the truth — to tell us how many people have died in their countries? Early on, I read a story that said China ordered 40 mobile incinerators and parked them in Wuhan, the epicenter of the pandemic. The Chinese said they were there for disposing of animal carcasses. Do you trust them? I don't. But I see that everywhere this virus goes, people die and quarantines go into effect. Italy is a worst-case scenario. Doctors are basically deciding on the spot who lives and dies, as their health care system has been overwhelmed by those with acute symptoms. 

People see what is going on around the world and panic. It's natural. Then people blame the media for causing panic. I'm sorry, but the media didn't call out the National Guard to quarantine neighborhoods, as we've seen in multiple places (and now FEMA is at a level one activation, which is the highest level). And San Francisco is basically under house arrest for three weeks with a 24-hour curfew. As I said, everywhere this thing goes, quarantines follow. Go ahead and make fun of those who are "panic buying," but the trajectory will be the same here as everywhere else. 

Clearly, coronavirus is not the only contagion. Fear is, perhaps, the most powerful contagion. People give up their constitutional rights when they're this scared. And "panic buying" is the American response to scary events. I remember when 9-11 happened and everyone went out and bought stuff. The line from the gas station on the corner was several blocks long. We are used to buying things to make ourselves feel better, so in times of acute stress, we buy, buy, buy. It's how we're programmed by our materialistic culture. As a clue to how scared people are and how unsure they will be protected, gun and ammo sales have gone through the roof, and many of those buying are now first-time gun owners. Better late than never. Welcome aboard.

By the way, why the focus on toilet paper? Well, it's something people will need when under quarantine. Why are people making fun of those buying toilet paper? If they feel they need to buy a few cases, what's the problem? I think the thing is perception. When a person buys a couple of cases of TP, it looks like a lot. It's really not that much. A whole wall of TP can disappear when 10 customers come through because it takes up so much space on the shelves. It simply looks like a lot is going out the door. Anyone with half a brain knows some things take up more space than others. Why people buying TP became a lightning rod for ridicule is beyond me. 

Even the word "hoarding" is inflammatory. Unless one was to go to their houses to see what they're storing, can we really say they're hoarding? And what is the definition of hoarding? It's subjective. That word should never have been used (or the phrase should have been modified to "possible hoarding"). The whole discourse about coronavirus was permeated by typical American isolationist arrogance from the beginning. But, just a few weeks ago, Europe was laughing at those memes too. They aren't laughing much anymore. There is so much misinformation out there right now, it's no wonder they didn't see it coming. And I wonder how much we are being lied to. Surely more than a little. The data stream is simply too robust for me to sort all the information. Anything specific I post here will be outdated in a few hours. I will say this, though. I don't trust someone's advice until I know who they work for. Who is their master? Do they serve the same master as I do?

The closures, cancellations, and postponements are saddening. Are they necessary? Clearly, those in charge think so, or maybe they don't want to be responsible for people getting sick. Lawsuits will follow, and they already have. What struck me as odd early on was the great divide in opinions. Some were panicking and calling out the National Guard and issuing quarantines for neighborhoods while others were urging folks to stay calm and get a flu shot. Really? A flu shot is no help against coronavirus, and new evidence says it may actually make you more susceptible. Bad vibes all around. I don't like the fear response. How many times does the Bible say don't fear? 365 times? Fear is perhaps the most powerful tool the devil has. It's so powerful, God gives us three godly spirits to fight it (love, power, and sound mind). Am I personally stocked up on things? Yes, but I always am. I'm OCD like that. I have food, potable water tablets, personal care items, and plenty of ammunition. Preparation is tricky because no one knows the scenario that will eventually play out. Well, God does. And He always warns His people. I think of Joseph and how he saved all those people in Egypt as well as the children of Israel by simply doing what God told him to do, which was to prepare. Christians like to say everything is in God's hands, but sometimes He gives us things to do, too. At times like this, obedience is critical. God may be telling you to do things such as prepare. I can't possibly know that. But, I know He isn't telling His people to panic. For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)

God is judging my nation. That's my belief. What have we made more important than God? Nearly everything: entertainment, celebrities, sports, recreation, money, our way of life, etc. Maybe God is telling us we need to take a break from those things. We cannot escape judgment when we sponsor so much death and destruction not only at home but around the world, as well as many other ungodly practices and policies. A few years ago, this nation surpassed 60 million legal abortions. That's a whole lot of murder, which God surely must judge. That's one example of why God is judging our land. Possible outcomes of the coronavirus are many, including sickness (happening), death (happening), quarantines (happening), martial law (threatened in some places), forced vaccinations (no doubt supplied for free by eugenicist Bill Gates), food scarcity (happening), and economic collapse (imminent if conditions persist). If you are a Christian and reading this, what can you do? 

Do the above (2 Chron. 7:14). It isn't necessary that unbelievers repent in order to heal the land. Only God's people. He will cleanse our land for the sake of His people. But they must do the above things. Humbling yourself usually means fasting but could mean more. Praying comes next. Seek His face. Turn from your wicked ways. That's four things. Is God calling you to repentance? Now is the time. We have God's promise He will heal our land if we do those things. This is the core of my message. I have faith God will heal our very sick country if we do those things. Who knows? This could be the beginning of a revival. I pray God uses this to turn it around and defeat the devil, much as He did in the story of Esther. 

I have known the devil's plan for this country most of my life (35-plus years), and have prayed against it as long as I've known how. The advice of those I knew at the time who were aware of the plan to overthrow the Constitution and bring our country into a New World Order scenario was the following: live godly lives and pray daily against the devices formed against our country and Christians everywhere, prepare for the worst, but plan for the future as if there will be a future. Don't put your life on hold. Otherwise, what is there to fight for? 

As a final word, I want to post an article that was helpful for me. At times like this, maintaining perspective is important. I often read articles at Vigilant Citizen, and this recent post is something I'd like to share. Now is not the time for panic, mockery, or lethargy. Now is the time for prayer, critical thinking, and respectful discourse. Please take the time to read the article. These are important times for vigilant citizens around the world to remain vigilant and for Christians to remain prayerful.

And David built there an altar to the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the LORD heeded the prayers for the land, and the plague was withdrawn from Israel. (2 Samuel 24:25)