Let’s talk about the elephant in the room/world right now, Coronavirus. Like most of the world, I wake up every day waiting to hear what the current damage report reads. I think most of us are aware that this pandemic is evolving rather quickly around the world. Just yesterday the news of the first confirmed death in my area was released. Whether you were paying attention or not for the past few months, I’m sure the last 72 hours has made you pay attention.
As the pandemic spreads. so does the memes and the polarizing opinions. I will readily admit that I deal with tough stuff through humor and honestly, I see nothing wrong with using humor to lighten the mood, as long as you remain respectful of the situation and those involved.
That being said, I want to address my friends who are posting and/or asking “What’s the big deal?” or “Everybody needs to calm down!” My family and I will not be calming down. We will appropriately respond to this pandemic as a big deal. Here’s why…
I have certain diseases and am on certain medications that put me in the “at-risk” category for this disease. Along with my weakened immune system, I have a body that can not and does not respond to sickness well. My body is already fighting itself daily, that is chronic illness, when I get “real people sick” my body doesn’t always have enough fight left to do a great job at fighting off something more, such as a virus like coronavirus.
My mom’s body has fought off a lot in its lifetime and, to be honest, the doctors have told us on numerous different occasions that her body just doesn’t have the capacity to fight off much more. From what we as a family understand of this disease, it attacks the respiratory system. Mom has been on a ventilator 3 times in the last 2 years and even on her best day she barely hits the “passing” range of lung function tests. Her body is at a very high risk for this pandemic and most certainly for more severe consequences than the average coronavirus patient.
The other question I’ve heard is “How is this any different than the flu?” and/or “Isn’t the flu even worse than the coronavirus?” I’m not claiming to be a doctor or an expert, but we have been told that since we’ve never seen this disease we have absolutely no immunity to coronavirus. The flu for instance I agree is all around us and runs rampant, but even the person with the lowest immunity has at some point come in contact with flu bacteria. Also, a lot of us have gotten the flu shot, that might not have prevented the flu from coming to you, but it most likely helped your body prepare how to fight the flu when it did hit you. Our bodies have never seen coronavirus, therefore they don’t know how to fight off the virus. Therefore, the disease gets to hit us like a mack truck if it wants to.
Now, we know that God has more than enough strength and fight in Him to defend our bodies against this pandemic, but we believe it is our duty to do our very best to protect the “tent” that God has given us. We are not panicked or hoarding over here in the Johnson household, but we are diligently following what guidelines we have been given by the World Health Organization and our leaders. Because mom and I are considered “high risk” and because the pandemic is in our area we have decided to isolate ourselves as much as possible and do what we need in order to remain as protected as possible.
Here’s the thing, we are fully aware that even if we do everything “right” we could still very well get this disease. We choose not to live in fear, but to live by faith. Fear is not from God. Panic is not from God. I want what God has for me, not what this world is telling me I need to feel. So, we prepare, we isolate, but more than anything we trust, we pray and we choose peace of mind. I hope you join with us and pray for our leaders as they do the best they can to keep us safe and I really hope and pray that you would choose peace over panic and faith over fear.
“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give peace to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”
John 14:27
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