“All I know is that I know nothing”

— Socrates

These are far from ordinary times and in the midst of it, it can be easy to let feelings overwhelm us. I would be lying if I said that my heart is lacking fear and anxiety. I fall into that high-risk category, after all, and I implore you to stay inside for my sake and the many others, whether they fall into this category or not. However, I do think that there is room for quite a bit of faith over these next few weeks. There is a lot of change and learning that is possible as we move forward.

At the forefront of these areas in our lives is our ability to trust. Our nation struggles with this, whether it is in leadership, ourselves, or God. We are all in a vulnerable position at the moment, which showcases how easily we can be humbled in just a matter of days. We tend to run towards our cultural ideals of humanism, individualism, and conspiracy rather than seeking the answers that involve a little more trust beyond ourselves and those we care about most deeply. This is the way we have been taught both psychologically and philosophically for most of our lives.

In times like this, it is crucial to begin to move towards the maximization of the common good in all things. It becomes much easier to see the lines with which our actions impact the positive outcomes involved. This does not mean hard decisions will not present themselves, but there are not as many variables as there are with the freedoms that we are able to partake in on a normal day. Frederick Buechner writes,

Compassion is the sometimes fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live inside somebody else’s skin. It’s the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too.

Compassion fuels us to seek out the common good of our neighbor. In times of uncertainty, particularly when physical isolation is necessary, it is crucial to not isolate our minds and souls. Keeping these aspects of our lives aflame will bring a necessary perspective to the instability that is waiting for us in the coming weeks. In addition to this, we must turn to God for encouragement both personally and communally whether we are able to gather together or not.

In truth, I have no idea what is going to happen in the coming days, weeks, or even months; but, whether the outcome is one to be desired or not, God is still good. Whether you are afraid or not, He is good and is a hiding place for those who are in need of one. Whether He miraculously intervenes in some way or chooses to let this disease run its course, He is good and strong enough to handle the circumstances that we face. Hope is not dependant upon how dire the outcome might be or the emotional toll that the journey could entail, but it is available to us as we humble ourselves before God.

Below are some resources that I have found helpful. Stay safe.