In the midst of the global pandemic, I have sought for many weeks to compile my thoughts. Truthfully, I am AFRAID, ANGRY, and HEARTBROKEN at the government and public reaction to the coronavirus.
I’m afraid.
1. Hormonal changed in pregnancy in addition to a worldwide pandemic, only add to the justifiable reality that I am afraid of giving birth alone.
Fortunately, I have the blessing of a healthy pregnancy; nevertheless, this is my first child and of course the unknown of labor, postpartum recovery, and taking care of a newborn is naturally terrifying. Now add a worldwide pandemic, fear-mongering, deafening loneliness, political turmoil, and Constitutional infringements in the name of “health and safety,” yes, I am afraid!
Though my rational mind is continually calming me, I am nervous my husband will not be there for the birth of our baby. Across America, hospitals are prohibiting “visitors” including husbands. Women are laboring alone, birthing alone, and in the first days of their child’s life, they are parenting alone. It is obvious to say, I am very afraid to do this alone.
2. Even more terrifying than birthing alone, I am afraid of the public complacency.
The public complacency to government overreach into the pulpits is flabbergasting! Is a church not an “essential business,” especially in the midst of a worldwide pandemic?
Food for thought, how would God-fearing individuals respond to gun stores being closed? Undoubtedly, grassroots from every corner of America would uprise with an out-roar to that constitutional violation. Yet, as the celebration of Jesus Christ’s resurrection draws near, many Americans are silent and bow their heads in submission to closing every church.
Where are the men of courage?
Where are the men of God and the ministers of faith?
Are we content as a congregation to abandon our public gatherings?
I firmly believe gathering as the Body of Christ is essential! God works miracles through prayers said alone and unbelievable comfort can come from letters far away, such as Paul’s letters written while in prison. Nevertheless, there is an undeniable need for the community of believers!
There are also countless ways to gather as the Body of Christ while simultaneously acting with love, respect, and care in preventing the spread of the virus.
After brainstorming for 5 minutes, here are my suggestions for safely gathering as the Body of Christ during a pandemic:
- Mandatory masks and gloves. During this pandemic, masks are a proven solution and are clearly working today in Japan and South Korea.
- Outdoor gatherings! During the summer, one of my favorite childhood memories is “Praise in the Park.” This is a simple and doable way of gathering while “social distancing.”
- Temporarily pause communal singing. Worshiping together as a body of believers is indescribable! However, limiting vocal singing may prove necessary to limit moisture contamination.
- Multiple Services, Multiple times a day. Multiple times a week! Some states are still experiencing snowstorms making outdoor services not possible. I suggest opening up multiple rooms in the church buildings for satellite preaching for 10 people per room. A simple sing up a spreadsheet can provide a “reservation” for a specific service throughout the week.
- Providing specific times for senior services! We must protect the health and earnestly help our most vulnerable, but there is a vital necessity to also Shepard their souls. This is not the time to isolate our senior citizens. Even if it is through the window of a car or a small church parade, we must not dangerously isolate members of our body.
- “Drive-in” church services in church parking lots! I love this idea! Everyone is able to tune into the radio station or to roll down their windows for a parking lot service. This sounds like fun to me!
Again, there are countless ways to physically be the church and physically be together and to see one another, without conforming to the dangers of isolation or hiding behind the screen.
As Easter approaches, my heart yearns for Americans to come together in celebration!
3. I am afraid of public panic.
Fortunately, the mass hysteria of hoarding and fearfully buying toilet paper has subsided to a degree. However, we cannot brush aside the unemployment! As of April 2nd, the Department of Labor reported 10 million Americans unemployed. The unprecedented speed of unemployment is terrifying. Today on April 9th, it is most likely nearing 16 million Americans unemployed.
How long will good, law-abiding citizens abide by tyrannical police state policies? How much sooner will millions of board, idle, depressed, drunk, stoned, or simply angry unemployed and employed men and women take to the streets to vandalize, rob, and riot?
4. I am afraid of changing political policies.
During this pandemic, there is an obvious inability to keep up with the constant change and the rumors of rumors of public policies. As an individual who rarely reads the second-hand account of laws, policies, or memos, I have found it overwhelmingly exhausting trying to keep informed and actually read each document. Truthfully, it is impossible to keep up with all the changes and for that reason, I am afraid.
5. Last but definitely not least, I am afraid of the coronavirus!
I am naturally nervous about the virus. This is a terrifying worldwide pandemic that should not be brushed aside or dismissed. I do not want my loved ones to get it. Nor do I want to get it while pregnant. I am afraid for my family members with pneumonia, with walking-pneumonia, battling cancer, and already suffering from compromised health issues. I grieve for those I know that do have the virus and pray daily for their recovery. Similarly, we pray our loved ones do not contract the virus. They are at risk and I do want to protect them!
The natural fear and truthful threat of COVID- 19 does not justify closing down an entire nation. There are common-sense policies to enact while refraining from becoming a police state.
I’m Angry
To the shock and dismay of many, I am very angry. Some will say my reaction is selfish, and simply because others are suffering, my feelings should remain mute. However, I refuse to continue to live in fear of voicing my opinion. Nor should I or shall I apologize. The truth is, I’M ANGRY!
1. I’m angry for the suffering businesses all across America.
My husband and I are fortunate to have the security of a monthly paycheck. At times throughout this pandemic, I have felt ashamed of this comfortable reality. But we have the blessing of being able to help others and for that I am grateful.
Nevertheless, I am angry and specifically for my father.
I am the daughter of a second-generation business owner, and being the daughter of my father is one of my proudest boasts in life! He is an incredible man of faith and a blessed man of entrepreneurial ambition. I am so angry at the senseless burden this pandemic if placing on businesses across this nation! As he struggles to provide for his family and pave a way for all his employees to continue to support their own families, he is being judged and slandered by individuals with comfortable jobs and comfortable incomes.
I can’t help but roll my eyes at countless self-declared “experts” sitting at home with the security of a government job or a simple work-at-home solution. Closed businesses mean no pay and possible termination of jobs. Closed businesses mean an exponential growth in unemployment. Currently, America is reporting 10 million unemployed. This is catastrophic! Any “Facebook certified” health experts arguing for continuation in this direction are absolutely blind to reality. So yes, I am angry!
2. I am also angry arbitrary policies are being enacted during my pregnancy.
Similar to my dreams of a perfect engagement and breathtaking wedding, I have dreamt of my first pregnancy. It may seem superficial, but canceling the celebration of our little boy is angering. As a military wife, I am far from friends and family and life can be very lonely. With our little boy being the first grandchild for both parents, my husband and I couldn’t wait to celebrate and glean wisdom from our parents, family, and friends! But of course, both baby showers were canceled by state orders. In this chaos, I am angry to be doing this pregnancy alone. I am angry to be unable to celebrate the pregnancy and possibly the actual birth without family and friends near!
I’m Heartbroken
I am heartbroken over my beloved homeland.
For many years, I have been painfully aware of the terrifying break from our Constitution and the intent laid out in the Declaration of Independence. However, I had hope. Hope in those fighting the good fight!
Yesterday, I wept.
I wept for my own safety. As my constitutional liberties were violated in the “liberty-loving” state of Texas, my heart broke with disappointment. My husband and I were threatened with fines and jail time while social distancing and with masks in an “essential business.” Is this America? Today, I heartbreakingly read about a father in Colorado cuffed in front of his daughter in an empty park. How are my patriotic brothers and sisters justifying this?
Of course, there are countless encouraging stories of Good Samaritan saving lives in the midst of this global pandemic. Americans have always risen to wonderful heights when helping loved ones and neighbors! More than any other nation in the world, Americans love to aide and protect those in need! But the government will soon find, they have broken and stabbed the heart of America.
There must be trust in the citizens of America! But right now, I only see city after city, state after state, binding chains around the helping hands while whipping the backs of Americans into fear and submission.
The power-hungry police state has raised her ugly head! No longer are law-abiding citizens trusted. “Social distancing” is not enough. No longer are face masks enough in this pandemic. Staying at home is not even enough. The World Health Organization is now speculating forcibly removing family members from their own homes! Nothing is enough.
What I will do!
I will not remain silent or quiver in fear. Though I weep for the Constitution of the United States and I weep for the Declaration of Independence, I will call city councils, local sheriffs, police chiefs, state politicians, federal representatives, I will share my personal persecution with reporters, and pray Americans will have courage. I will also take my “essential business” to different cities and proudly put my money alongside my words.
Today, I mourned the freedoms savagely mutilated and left to die all in the sweet name of public safety and soft despotism. But today I will also pray, stand up, voice my opinions, and soon vote.
My unborn child deserves to live in a better America! I refuse to remain idle and silent as the newly enacted police state policies ruin this nation. I will proudly be among the few continuing to stop the spread of COVID-19 as well as continuing to stand up for our liberties and freedoms!
What can we do?
I encourage each American to act! Act in love, respect, and remain focused!
Call your local, state, and federal elected officials. Call your sheriffs and police chiefs. Do your part in keeping others safe as well! Properly wear masks, wash your hands, social distance, and most importantly if you are sick, at-risk, or concerned STAY HOME and stay safe. Help your neighbors! Send letters, make phone calls, skype loved ones. Donate blood, food, and talents (i.e. making face masks). If able, volunteer. Most importantly, pray for our leaders, our first responders, our nation, and our brothers and sisters across the world.
Also, I encourage you to ask questions and seek to stand up for your rights, especially your religious freedoms. Soft despotism is a fatal diagnosis, may we not succumb.
During this pandemic, if you believe your religious liberties are being violated contact these organizations.
Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF): https://www.adflegal.org/
Liberty Counsel: https://www.lc.org/
Pacific Justice Institute (PJI): https://www.pacificjustice.org/
First Liberty: https://firstliberty.org/