Today we're all a little Sheldon-y.
My roommate came home yesterday with a small cough, and I decided to skip work today out of an abundance of caution. Though this disease has serious ramifications for the elderly, I think it's important to remember to keep a light heart in spite of whatever life throws at us. I'm strangely at peace while the world seems to be going a little crazy.
This is due in no small part to the fact that I believe in Jesus Christ, and the Gospel tells us that "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7). There are many passages of Scripture that speak of safety in the midst of madness, one of my favorites being Psalm 91. Isaiah 26:3 also says "You will keep [them] in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you."
I have once again been a loud critic of the ponderous and minimizing response of the Executive Branch to this crisis. Nevertheless, I am grateful that as of today, there does appear to be a response. My only hope as things likely get worse in the coming weeks is that the suffering and death will be minimal, and that this pandemic will lead to a change in people's attitudes.
What matters more than universal healthcare or a coordinated government response is the fact that Christ was a great advocate for healing. He didn't even judge people by their "worthiness" to receive care. It's time to acknowledge, as I've said many times before, that the Bible is not a manifesto for ruthless capitalism.
It's time to revitalize the lost art of compassion. Though I am often guilty of painting with broad brushstrokes and categorically condemning supporters of Trump, I have to acknowledge that many of the people I love and respect are still in support of his agenda. I wish and pray every day that their eyes will be opened to the apolitical and transcendent nature of the Gospel, which espouses both Democratic and Republican ideals at various points. He's a God who cares for the orphan, the foreigner, and the widow.
If we as a nation can afford $1.5 Trillion in stimulus benefits for Wall Street, it's no stretch at all to say that we can afford universal healthcare and free testing for the Coronavirus. Taxes and government subsidies are a fact of modern life, and for those who call Jesus their Lord and Savior, it shouldn't strike them as controversial that the people of our nation need care in times of crisis. One thing that was always true, but now is readily apparent, is that the health of our poorest neighbor has always been our concern.
I don't want to sound like an evangelist for liberal ideals. What I really am is a proponent of intellectual honesty. If you truly read the Book with a mind not polluted by party rhetoric, you will see that compassion is the supreme law.
I don't have a concise point here, other than the fact that we're all in this together. One principle that I'm very grateful for in my years of military experience is that we succeed or fail as a team. Individual accomplishments are meant to be lauded, but leaving your weakest teammates behind will always be met with scorn and harsh discipline in a military training environment.
This is due in no small part to the fact that I believe in Jesus Christ, and the Gospel tells us that "God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7). There are many passages of Scripture that speak of safety in the midst of madness, one of my favorites being Psalm 91. Isaiah 26:3 also says "You will keep [them] in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you."
I have once again been a loud critic of the ponderous and minimizing response of the Executive Branch to this crisis. Nevertheless, I am grateful that as of today, there does appear to be a response. My only hope as things likely get worse in the coming weeks is that the suffering and death will be minimal, and that this pandemic will lead to a change in people's attitudes.
What matters more than universal healthcare or a coordinated government response is the fact that Christ was a great advocate for healing. He didn't even judge people by their "worthiness" to receive care. It's time to acknowledge, as I've said many times before, that the Bible is not a manifesto for ruthless capitalism.
It's time to revitalize the lost art of compassion. Though I am often guilty of painting with broad brushstrokes and categorically condemning supporters of Trump, I have to acknowledge that many of the people I love and respect are still in support of his agenda. I wish and pray every day that their eyes will be opened to the apolitical and transcendent nature of the Gospel, which espouses both Democratic and Republican ideals at various points. He's a God who cares for the orphan, the foreigner, and the widow.
If we as a nation can afford $1.5 Trillion in stimulus benefits for Wall Street, it's no stretch at all to say that we can afford universal healthcare and free testing for the Coronavirus. Taxes and government subsidies are a fact of modern life, and for those who call Jesus their Lord and Savior, it shouldn't strike them as controversial that the people of our nation need care in times of crisis. One thing that was always true, but now is readily apparent, is that the health of our poorest neighbor has always been our concern.
I don't want to sound like an evangelist for liberal ideals. What I really am is a proponent of intellectual honesty. If you truly read the Book with a mind not polluted by party rhetoric, you will see that compassion is the supreme law.
I don't have a concise point here, other than the fact that we're all in this together. One principle that I'm very grateful for in my years of military experience is that we succeed or fail as a team. Individual accomplishments are meant to be lauded, but leaving your weakest teammates behind will always be met with scorn and harsh discipline in a military training environment.
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