SOCIAL DISTANCING
(Written during the global pandemic in 2020)
I’m having a really hard time right now, especially with this “social distancing”. First of all, I don’t think it’s from God.
Don’t get me wrong - I totally get that the COVID virus is real, (as I type this I have a very dear friend in the ICU with this virus, fighting for his life!) and it’s important for us all to practice safe habits… but God did not intend for us to be isolated from each other. (Genesis 2:18) The enemy loves to divide us - it’s what he’s been doing since the garden, (when the blame game started! Genesis 3:12-13) and we’ve all heard the phrase, “United we stand, divided we fall.” It’s true! We are always stronger when we’re TOGETHER! (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
So, during this time when we are forced to isolate, and not get too near each other and not meet in groups and all the other ways we need to stay apart… how can we come together?
I think we need to re-member.
Let me explain.
I used to work for a hospital that had an amazing group of physicians (The Buncke Clinic) where they specialize in microsurgery. Seriously… they actually perform surgeries using microscopes so they can reattach body parts that had been dis-membered… fingers, toes, tongues, etc. They’re experts at re-membering!!!
Paul said we are all members of one body, (1 Corinthians 12:12) and this social distancing is dis-membering us! Its separating members - members of church bodies, members of Bible studies, members of sewing groups and book clubs and even in some cases, families! If one part of the body is sick, it affects the whole body (1 Corinthians 12:26) so it’s important for us to re-member each other!
But, how do we do this without being “non-compliant” to the social distancing rules?
First, again, I think we need to remember…
Remember what it was like to actually CALL someone on the phone and have a conversation! Not just shoot a text, but actually dial their phone number and SPEAK with them… hear their voice and let them hear your voice… and your heart.
Remember what it was like to hand-write a letter! Sanitize your hands first, and then handwrite a letter or card to someone you know would like to receive it. My 93 year old grandmother can’t read the cards or letters she gets, but she LOVES getting them anyway - even if my mom has to read them aloud to her! A handwritten note seems to be a thing of the past, and yet when you take the time (which everyone seems to have a lot of right now!) to sit down and actually WRITE a note, it speaks volumes. Even more than the words on the page that you’ve written.
Remember what it was like to chat with your neighbor over the fence. You can stay far enough apart to not infect each other, yet still spread joy and love to one another by connecting in a nice conversation.
Remember what it was like to go for a walk. Outside. In the fresh air. And at least SMILE from a distance to passers-by, maybe even wave and say, “Hi!”! Even while keeping our distance from others, we don’t need to treat them as lepers. (Sadly, I’ve actually seen this behavior taking place.) Remember, we’re all going through this together, so let’s be kind to each other and treat others the way we’d like to be treated. (Luke 6:31)
Remember that God uses all things for good. (Romans 8:28) He gave us a brain and a heart, so ask Him to take this bad situation and use it for good and help us think of NEW ways of connecting with each other. Try a “wagon wheel meeting” where we get some people and we all meet in an empty parking lot, (like at church!) and back our cars into a circle - like the spokes of a wagon wheel - open our back hatches and sit in the backs of our cars and chat for a while! Let’s not let the enemy dis-member our body! Especially re-member those who may be more disconnected than others… elderly, widows, single parents… we know who they are… let’s re-member them.
And last but not least, remember God. Keep your mind fixed on Him. (Isaiah 26:3) Remember to pray to Him continually. (Philippians 4:6-7) And remember that He loves you. He loves this WHOLE WORLD, (John 3:16-17) and He has a plan. A GOOD plan. (Jeremiah 29:11)
Even when it’s hard.
Even when we’re struggling.
Even when it seems like all is lost… its NOT!
Remember that.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
SCRIPTURES
Genesis 2:18 - NIV - The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone…”
Genesis 3:12-13 - ESV - The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Ecclesiastes 4:12 - NLT - A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
1 Corinthians 12:12 & 14 - NET - For just as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body—though many—are one body, so too is Christ… For in fact the body is not a single member, but many.
1 Corinthians 12:26 - ESV - If one member suffers, all suffer together;
Luke 6:31 - AMP - And as you would like and desire that men would do to you, do exactly so to them.
Romans 8:28 - NKJV - And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
Isaiah 26:3 - NLT - You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Philippians 4:6-7 - ESV - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
John 3:16-17 - NET - For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him.
Jeremiah 29:11 - NIV - For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.