Mar
20
2020
Change The Contagion
Posted in Evangelism 2 Comments
In this time of uncertainty and confusion, the best thing we can do is put beauty into the world.
We can add a touch here and a glimpse there.
We can change the course of conversation away from gloom and towards joy.
Yes, there is still joy.
We hear the word, contagion.
We hear the word, virus.
We hear the word, pandemic.
We hear the words, social distancing.
How can all of these terms, though necessary, be turned around and point to joy?
How can each of us put beauty into the world, when all we see around us is negativity?
How can we regain our calm when everything seems to be shifting beneath our feet?
How can we maintain composure when our way of life has been drastically altered?
Change the contagion.
Contagion is the communication of disease from one person to another by close contact.
We are being told to stay six feet from another person.
We are told to stay out of public places.
We are told that the best place to be is home.
As of this evening in my state, only essential workers are to report to work.
People are getting their hours cut or are out of work completely.
Some must go through this time without pay.
Children are home, but their world has gotten quite small.
We are all expected to follow the directions given by our government officials.
We don’t like to follow directions.
We like to do what we want to do when we want to do it.
Except not now.
Change the contagion.
After we have followed all the directions, pivot just a bit.
Send a smile to another person.
Send a note of encouragement to a weary friend.
Change the contagion.
Stay home but stay connected.
Check in on one another and on neighbors who are alone.
Use technology to transform social isolation into social connectivity.
Joy is to be caught.
Spread it around.
Let the Joy contagion start with you.
How many can catch the joy contagion within an acceptable social distance?
Joy can be spread exponentially through the Internet.
Social media can infuse joy into a gravely ill world.
Joy is the antidote to fear.
Joy is the loveliest contagion.
Joy.
Catch it.
Spread it.
Transmit it.
Change the contagion.
Pivot from fear to trust.
Turn from gloom to hope.
Stand tall and lean on the One who has the strength to hold us.
When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm. (Psalm 75:3)
Change the contagion.
Change the Story.
We need to hear the Good News.
We need to hear that Jesus loves us so much, He died for us and rose from the dead.
Change the contagion.
Share the Good News.
Limit the doom and gloom news that is permeating every crevice of our life.
Tell the Story that everyone needs to hear. (John 3:16)
God has us.
God is not asleep while the world deals with this virus.
God is there, holding us, comforting us, and loving us deeply, always.
God is still on His Throne.
Change the contagion.
We are loved by our sovereign God.
His restraining hand is over us.
In the shelter of His wings is where we find our protection and our peace.
Do you remember how we used to drive
Over the mountain and down to the river bend
Where the ghosts of the valley all haunt the tracks
The highway calls your stories back again
Oh, Jamie, I’m all alone out here
And all I used to know is in the wind
And now
I don’t recognize a thing
I need a brand new song to sing
So tell me the story I still need to hear
Tell me we’re gonna make it out alive again
I need to know there’s nothing left to fear
There’s nothing left to hide
So will you look me in the eye
And say we will survive
Someday the truth’s gonna lay us babe
We’re gonna raise a glass to the past and say
It’s only when the straight line breaks and heals a little crooked
That you ever see the grace
Well I had to find a better place
Maybe the bend in the river’s the only way
And I’m lost
Got all these voices in my head
I need some hope up there instead
So tell me the story I still need to hear
Tell me about the sun that’s gonna rise again
I need to know there’s nothing left to fear
There’s nothing left to hide
So will you look me in the eye
Say we will survive
We will survive
Do you remember how I used to say
Love is a fire and it’s gonna burn us up
To make the space for grace to grow
Now it feels like love has called my bluff
So tell me the story I still need to hear
Tell me about the love that never dies
Tell me the story I still need to hear
Tell me we’re gonna make it out alive again
I need to know there’s nothing left to fear
There’s nothing left to hide
So when you look me in the eye
I know we will survive
We will survive
I know we will survive
I know we will survive
(We Will Survive, by Andrew Peterson)
Thanks for your wise words, Gina–I’m tired of the gloom and doom all around us. I agree there are so many things to be joyful about and we should not let our fears/anxiety be the ruling thought in us. Take a walk outside and see all the beauty God has given us. Think of the love we share with our families, the talents we all have that can be used at this time. There is much to be joyful about. Thank You, dear Lord.
Amen, Sue!