I don’t often jump into the middle of current events and public policy, but I think I must do my part. The most loving thing we can do RIGHT NOW about the coronavirus (COVID-19) is to start practicing social distancing TODAY.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here’s a link to a long and powerful article<\/a> whose arguments I won’t repeat. (The link is safe: it’s to my private google web site.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you like pictures more than words, this article from the Washington Post<\/a> illustrates how social isolation “flattens the curve” so that our hospitals will be able to keep up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n June and I had our last outing Friday. We have cleared our calendars except for some phone appointments and computer-facilitated meetings. The point is, the sooner we all act, the quicker we can get back to normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As I’ve written here<\/a>, our daughter and family are in China and have experienced serious lockdown. Her full recent reflection is here<\/a>, and this is her closing paragraph:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest difference I’m seeing is that here in China, people have calmly complied with everything that was asked of us. It was a bit uncomfortable and some days were really hard, but we understood it was all for the greater good. We remained calm and respectful and rode it out. I am really scared by the way many Americans are behaving. This is serious, and it takes serious measures to get it under control. <\/em>– Melody Gifford, March 15, 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n None of this is to say we are not still responsible to love and care for those around us. I will write more about that tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1.7, ESV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise. (Ephesians 5.15, ESV)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I don’t often jump into the middle of current events and public policy, but I think I must do my part. The most loving thing we can do RIGHT NOW about the coronavirus (COVID-19) is to start practicing social distancing TODAY. Here’s a link to a long and powerful article whose arguments I won’t repeat. … Continue reading The Loving Thing: Social Distancing<\/span>