COVID-19, the beginning

abbyfeeback
Apr 1, 2020
3 min read

Happy April Fools Day! Unfortunately, this isn't a joke.

It started in China December 2019. By March 2020, the coronavirus had impacted the entire globe exponentially. The technical name is “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Related Coronavirus 2”, causing the disease known as COVID-19.

Italy was the first country to be shut down. The river in Venice runs clean for the first time in half a century, and the people are putting on concerts from their balconies. It’s so beautiful to see how communities rise together in times of turmoil.

There is still so much we do not know about this virus, but we're learning more every day. Do not cough around people, and do not touch your face. “Social Distancing” has gone from a meme to a true defensive safety measure. Non-essential businesses have closed, travel from foreign countries is banned, school districts have transferred to online courses for the remainder of the semester, and university students have been sent home. In other news, all professional sports have been canceled as well as the 2020 Olympics, film release dates are being postponed, and artists are postponing album releases as well as concert tour dates. Our world is being turned upside down.

At first, only the elderly had fatality due to the virus. However, within the past week, the US has surpassed all other countries in the number of patients, the youngest being merely a few years old. Symptoms include fever, dry cough, fatigue, difficulty breathing, and we are seeing an average of 80% likely recovery. There are still cases all around the world yet to be identified because of the lack of tests available.

In the simplest terms, the virus attacks cells and our immune systems tricked into helping along, allowing for normal bacteria that usually don’t harm us to make us extremely sick. Our immune systems become vulnerable and overwhelmed.

Contrary to popular belief, COVID-19 is much more dangerous than the flu. It is more contagious and is spreading rapidly throughout the world. Because there is no vaccine, we have to socially engineer our behavior. This is why Social Distancing has become so important.

Sure, it sucks to not be able to see your friends or to go to church or work or school. Our lives that are consistently busy have halted. What are you doing with this time? Routine has been such an important part of all of our lives, has it made us lazy? Are you spending time with your loved ones in your house and taking advantage of this lightly-veiled gift?

The Lord has always been on the throne. This virus has not caught him by surprise and he is STILL on the throne. Take heart and know that he is in control.

John 16:33 states “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” He is our intercessor and the one who will stand for us - is currently standing for us!

Abba, help us today to lean on you when we are weary and dance for joy that you are in control. Let us have reckless abandon as David did and help us to love those around us as you have. You are love, O Lord. You are the joy and peace within our souls and we sing praises to you as long as we have a voice and when our voices fail us we will kneel at your feet in adoration. Thank you, Jesus, for the grace and the mercy you have shown us. Thank you for the plans you have we do not yet know. We put our trust in your today, Lord, knowing by faith you love us and care for our soul’s well-being. We lift all of this up as sweet fragrance to you, God, in Christ’s name and we thank you,

Amen