A Tale of Two Futures
My previous post has made it obvious that social distancing is taking its toll on me. But I struggle with wanting things to go completely go back to normal. There are too many blessings in this new temporary reality that I am not yet ready to give up. As a professional future projector (using data and historical experience, not incantations and what not) I can't help but wonder what the future looks like on the other side of this pandemic and months of social distancing. Let me share with you two hypotheticals.
The the Old Normal but with an Anxious Twist
In the first hypothetical, life essentially gets back to how it was before the Coronavirus. Parents return to the office or worksite and children return to school. We all fall back into our old normal and comfortable routines. We pack our schedules back full of activities such as sports, concerts, and entertainment. We retreat back into our homes, constantly focused on our to-do lists, once again forsaking the therapeutic call of the outdoors.
The threat of social contact still fresh in our memories, we are skeptical of all social interactions. Instead of seeing another human being, a friend or a family member as one to be embraced, we view them as a potential contagion carrying the next unknown viral threat. Handshakes never quite make a comeback. Hugs are viewed as terroristic in nature. In short, we continue to keep our distance. Ever wary of what could be on the horizon, some even persist in wearing masks in public. We grow cold. Our children, having grown up in this environment, find themselves accustomed to social distancing, persisting the lack of physical touch into the next generation.
In this hypothetical, we keep the busyness of before and compound it with the anxiousness of this moment. Never certain of the future, people continue to hoard. The mantra of self preservation shapes our interactions. Extended family relationships deteriorate further as anxious grandparents continue to fear their grandchildren and the yet unknown pathogens they may carry. More and more churches close their doors as the economic impacts of social distancing took a huge bite out of the offerings. Owing to fears of future economic shocks, generosity lies dormant. Rates of suicide from now fear driven self-imposed isolation increase even further. We have seen how the rug can be pulled out from under us and ever fearful of a repeat we cling tightly to everything we have.
Best of the Old with the Blessings of the New
In the second hypothetical, realizing how quickly everything can change, we make the most of every day. Because we realize, through this temporary deprivation, how much our relationships mean to us, we chose to invest more of our time in each other. Recognizing that employees can be just as productive, if not more, at home, and that the consequent reduction in emissions is good for the air and the environment, employers embrace part time and full time work from home arrangements for their associates. This gives parents more time with their children. Parents can then continue to take a more active role in their child's learning. Families persist in eating dinners together. Game nights and family fun become the norm instead of the exception. We resist the temptation to over schedule ourselves and learn to build slack into our schedules so as to enjoy and support each other more.
Grateful for the ability to embrace each other again, we greet each other with the warmest of hugs. Hand shakes and shoulder pats make a full comeback. We eagerly cast off our masks so we can put our smiles on full display. Grandparents joyfully squeeze their grandchildren tightly and delight again in their presence. Extended families gather frequently to celebrate every passing milestone, never taking each other and their ability to get together for granted. Those in extended care facilities are flooded with visitors, no longer isolated and forgotten.
In this scenario, we take the best of what was and combine it with the best of what is currently in this moment. We choose to extend the blessings of this season into the future. Knowing how quickly the economic landscape can change we invest in people instead of things. We invest in the kingdom of God instead of the kingdom of self. Churches are flooded as, stripped of our material focus, we finally allow the Spirit of God to move in and through us. Generosity abounds courtesy of a spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving. Churches, now outward focused, are able to meet the economic needs of their communities once again. They become a refuge and source of relief from the continued cares of the world. We no longer forsake the gathering because we are so thrilled that we once again get to gather.
The difference between these two hypotheticals comes down to what fuels us. In the future are we to be motivated by fear or by love and thanksgiving? Fear creates a prison. It's been weaponized to control masses of people all throughout history. Fear turns us inward and pits us against everyone else. Love is the antidote to fear. As Christians, God has given us "a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control" 2 Timothy 1:7. For this moment, love means keeping our distance. Take note that we don't practice social distancing because of fear; we practice it because we love. We cannot succumb to the fear of this moment in time or allow it to follow us on the other side of this crisis. We need to love each other by protecting the vulnerable and exercising grace and patience with each other (especially those we are spending so much time with at home). We must continue in generosity to each other and our churches, bearing each others burdens as best we can while apart.
When this specific threat passes, may love continue to reign in our hearts where it can be expressed again as time together face to face, embracing one another, and continuing in generosity. Let us never again take each other or our families for granted.
I am praying for you and your families at this time, that God will grant you peace, protection, and provision. May you find your refuge in Him.