Social Distancing

Social distancing. It has become the buzzword of 2020 due to the spread of this worldwide Corona virus. People are being asked to self quarantine and practice social distancing in an effort to slow down and ultimately stop the spread of this virus. People are taking precautions not to interact with the elderly, as they seem to be the most prone to not be able to recover from the effects of the virus. I’ve seen stories of people talking to their elderly parents and grandparents through windows of nursing homes and I’ve seen the picture of the little boy and his grandpa playing tic-tac-toe on opposite sides of a glass door.

However, social distancing can have other positive effects outside of just protecting the elderly and those with a higher risk of being unable to recover. It can force families to slow down and spend time with one another. It can force people to either deepen their relationship with God, or maybe even search for God during this difficult time. It can force neighbors to rely on one another for help and even put their needs above our own. Social distancing is not a new fad, ask introverts!

Jesus, Himself, practiced social distancing at times. There were times when He was tired from the constant push of the crowds looking for physical healing. After feeding the 5000, He sent His disciples on ahead to the other side of the lake and took some time to distance Himself from society, “Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone” - Matthew 14:22-23.

He sought time for just Himself and His Father. He needed time to reconnect with God. He needed to realign Himself with the will of His Heavenly Father. What an example that is for us. When the events of life have physically, emotionally and spiritually drained us, do we seek time to reconnect with our Father?  Do we disconnect and search for His will instead of our own will or the will of the world and news media?

Not only did Jesus socially distance Himself when He was worn down, He socially distancedHimself when He was in spiritual distress. The night before He was crucified, He distanced Himself once again to plead with His Father, “And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. And when he came to the place, he said to them, ‘Pray that you may not enter into temptation.’ And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.’” - Luke 22:39-42.

We are living in troubling times with a contagious virus to deal with. We have been asked to distant ourselves socially from others to help contain the virus. During this time, who are you turning to for relief of your physical, emotional and spiritual concerns?  There’s a God that would love to reconnect and re-energize His children.

Have a great day and God bless.