The Next Right Thing
God-focused, Christ-centered, Spirit-led – what’s the next right thing each of us could do?
As the days of this crisis grind on, we strive to find some sense of God’s plan in this chaos. For those of you who serve in a medical field, there has never been a time in modern history that the general public has felt your contributions so keenly. For the rest of us, we watch your efforts and marvel at the dedication.
People in pastoral positions feel especially responsible to offer words of wisdom and insight in this period of uncertainty. And if they’re anything like me, they feel woefully inadequate.
It’s easy to think that if we don’t have a medical degree, then we have nothing to offer in this time as Christians. What use is our faith right now?
But as the rest of the world veers and reels from shock, we who follow Christ have always known intellectually that the world and its governments will fail us. Our hope has never been solely in them.
But now we know that the world is going to fail us.
So when our doubts overwhelm us, as mine did at 3:41 am this morning, waking me and sending me tossing and turning on the waves of news– what we’re called to is simply the next right thing.
And that’s going to look different for each of us. For those of us who are parents, that’s helping our children find a sense of routine and normalcy that isn’t endless hours of screen time and snacks. It means taking time to hear our children’s fears without dismissing or demeaning them – all the while asking ourselves how we can provide empathy. It could mean mobilizing your children for volunteering from afar – contacting a nursing home about reading out loud to residents via FaceTime, or making cards to send to them. It might mean opening your house to a child whose home life isn’t safe. What’s your next right thing?
For those of us who are blessed to work from home, we need to stay home. But while we’re home, we can call our congressmen and women to demand equal pay for our essential workers. We could also send a gift card to a friend whose income has been cut by 50% or more – as 1 in 5 Americans are experiencing. It could mean donating extra supplies to hospitals and urgent care centers or a friend who can make homemade masks. Or ordering take out to support local restaurants, or buying gift cards from them to save for when times are better. Or not hoarding supplies for the vulnerable who can’t afford to stock up. It could mean ALL of these things at different times.
Above all, stay home. I know we’re home and we’re anxious and getting stir-crazy after days and sometimes weeks in quarantine. I feel you there! I really do! But we can do this. Seriously. We can.
Staying home helps flatten the curve. I’m immune-compromised and this is especially important for people like me. I seem relatively healthy, but I’ve been on immune suppressants for a couple years because of my rheumatoid arthritis. That means that I have an underlying condition that makes it risky for me to be out in public. And you probably know someone like me. If you go out more than you need to, its dangerous for me.
So even if you think you would survive the pandemic, we are called as Christians to think of each other first. What’s your next right thing?
For those of you who can’t stay home, thank you for your service stocking grocery shelves, manning drive-thrus, serving in police or fire or EMT, and serving in our nation’s thousands of health care clinics, emergency rooms, or hospitals. Your next right thing might be to ask for help, ask for a take out meal or groceries or encouraging cards! We’re here for you. We want to know how to help you.
Whatever you can do, whatever your next right thing ends up being, there’s no doubt that this pandemic is going to indelibly change the face of the world. We know that, we’ve seen that. Churches are scrambling for a new normalcy in the wake of social distancing and quarantining. We, the Church, have a clarion call for the world to hear. Relationships matter! We matter! Each person matters! The Church has always known that!
This isn’t the first time the Church has had this opportunity. Throughout history in the Western world, the Church has been on the forefront of fighting disease, establishing the very first hospitals, caring for the poor and the sick and the dying. We can and must do that again!
Connectedness is more important than ever and we can offer that! So schedule that video call with your friends, or with your small group - write cards to relatives who are socially distancing because their lives depend on it, donate to causes making a difference, but above all – champion the people around you and their health!
As Christians we know what it’s like to hope beyond our present circumstances – we can offer that. Because now is the time to use our resources of time, energy, and money to help our neighbors all over the world know about the love that motivates us. The hope that energizes us. And the faith that galvanizes us.
God-focused, Christ-centered, Spirit-led – what’s the next right thing each of us could do?
(This essay first aired on The Common Good Radio Show on April 1st.)