image by cindy45 via CanStockPhoto
The world is hurting! There are no easy paths through or around COVID-19; it has entwined us into a painful terrain of thorns. Those who tested positive, and those who have lost loved ones—hurt the most. There’s no ticket out of this devastation; and if there were such a ticket—there’s no place to go—we’re all in this together.
Love is key!
I think one of the quickest ways to claw our way through this thicket, is to embrace: All people are equal in the sight of God; no matter where they call home.
For God shows no partiality [undue favor or unfairness; with Him one man is not different from another]. (Romans 2:11, AMP)
In Matthew 5:43-44, it tells us to love our neighbor as thyself. Who is our neighbor? Every single person on this planet—is every single person’s neighbor. The term neighbor—crosses all ethnic, socioeconomic, and boundary lines. When we mistreat and undervalue one another, we will reap the actions we have sown. (See Galatians 6:7-8.)
If we don’t learn anything else from this pandemic, it’s imperative that we realize God commands us to love one another; not withholding people who have nothing tangible to offer in return. (See Matthew 25.)
The world applauds!
Even though the ground is thorny—there are so many human-interest stories told about people sowing seeds of compassion. We touch the heart of God when we treat each other with love and respect. For example, those in the medical field who daily put their lives in danger, and some even lost their lives; the world applauds you. These treasured beings are literally on the battlefield working under deplorable conditions; social distancing—not applicable when caring for patients with the virus. When their shift is over, they can’t remove their heavy hearts as easily as they can strip off their protective gear; soap and water can’t wash away the stains of sadness.
Applauding. . .
Let’s not forget about those who work outside of the medical field; many times, these laborers are often taken for granted: the maintenance crew who discards all the contagious waste; workers who replenish barren shelves, clerks and cashiers who are working in harms’ way. Yet, many of these workers are working at minimum wage.
Still applauding . . .
The United States military—we salute you for erecting make-shift hospitals in a matter of days. Retirees—we applaud you for volunteering your expertise; truckers, driving across country to deliver food and supplies, thank you; good Samaritans, your generosity is deeply heartfelt—leaving boxes of groceries on porches of those in need. Philanthropists, checking on the lonely and forgotten; we applaud you, too.
I only listed a few of these precious souls for the sake of space; nevertheless, we all know who they are; they are the backbone, the engine—who God is using to keep things up and running during these unprecedented times.
The ground is thorny; but the soil is fertile.
Hopefully, by the time COVID-19 runs its course, the thorny grounds will have been replaced by green pastures. Thank you, humanitarians; your kind-heartedness is fertilizing this old self-centered, materialistic world.
The applauds continue. . .
© 2020
See you next week on Paulette Talks Faith.