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Thursday, March 12, 2020

Your Dying Spouse 739 - Face The Fear {Five Minute Friday}

And so, coronavirus.

Being in the top part of the high-risk group, I guess I should be scared. There is a nontrivial chance of death for people like me.

Except, I'm not scared.

COVID-19, to give it its proper name, is a respiratory virus in the same family as many others, including the common cold. It's a bit more lethal, not much, but it's not an unknown quantity. The World Health Organiation says that over 80% of those infected will experience only mild symptoms, and the vast majority will recover quickly.

Its spread has peaked in China, and the rate of infection (even given massive screening) is slowing in the US.

It's not, as the media likes to call it, a 'killer virus'. It's nasty, but it will eventually go away, like H1N1, SARS, MERS, Swine Flu, and a host of others we can't even recall.

It's not a judgment on a sinful world, and while it's certainly no boon, there are blessings contained within the dreadful...

...like the bodies we are given, which have the ability to fight a broad range of infections...

...like the leaders who are willing to step up and implement policy that will protect us, and preserve our economic health from panic...

...like the health-care professionals willing to step into harm's way to care for the sick and comfort the dying...

...like the scientists who have already developed potential vaccines against COVID-19, which are now in testing. (The 'architecture' of COVID-19 is similar to MERS, and has lent itself to a genetically-engineered vaccine similar to that which proved successful for MERS.)

So I'm optimistic...this is not the harbinger of the End. It's a tooth-jarring pothole, to be sure, but our road goes on.

And beyond that, and more fundamentally, I'm at peace. I take every precaution I can, and so does Barb, but if I get the thing, I get it.

If I die, I die.

One thing cancer has taught me is that if I base my joy on the permanence of this earthly life, I'm hitching my wagon to a soap-bubble star.

Happiness can't go far, with that kind of transportation.

I may die, but I won't be gone.

I'll just be starting over, in a brand new, grand new game.

They say doom is upon us,
and we can do nowt but cry;
fortitude's tossed beneath the bus,
and we're all going to die.
They say that we are helpless,
and God won't show His face
to a people now so feckless,
so government is grace.
They say...oh, this is stupid,
and shall not wreck my day,
for they aren't even lucid,
and who are 'they', anyway?
Half full, not empty, is my glass,
and I know this, too, shall pass.

Music from Casting Crowns, with a cool live performance of The Voice of Truth.


Thanks to Carol Ashby, Blessed Are The Pure Of Heart is back on Kindle, and will be available in paperback soon.

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26 comments:

  1. HI Andrew
    I was going to ask you how you are doing but I guess that would be stupid. I should just continue to read the rest of your older posts, right? I was reading about 20 of them when I stopped to comment just now. I have referenced you on my post in the discussion forum of my seminary course I am taking. I found your reply to the debate about war and pacifism on Michelle Ule's blog and I think I have never heard of a more sound and sensible reply to this question. Thank you for that.
    But I will still ask. How are you doing? How will I pray for you today?
    I didn't know you 15 minutes ago but now I think I know you better than my neighbour of 10 years. When I see the twilight of my life nearing I hope can say with you "I may die, but I won't be gone.
    I'll just be starting over, in a brand new, grand new game."
    I know it will be grand and I have that hope but to say it boldly like you? I don't know.
    Thank you, Andrew for not giving up! I will be looking for you tomorrow! I have bookmarked your blog.

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    1. Ben, wow...thank you for this (and please excuse my very late reply...both my illness and internet woes have played hob with my response time).

      As for how I'm doing...right now the pain and fatigue are immense, but I'm happier than I have ever been. There's a grace in being freed from the cares of an earthly future, of the need to impress the world, and, most critically, impress myself. I still do things, and work toward goals, but the striving is gone. I can enjoy the moment's labours for what they are.

      Does that make sense?

      I'm broken, and truly, in being broken, have become whole. The garment has become seamless, even though it be my burial shroud.

      Thank you so much for being here, and I am so very, very honoured by your words.

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  2. Hi Andrew, we are on the same page/train of thought today! i.e. Don't panic! Blessings. xx

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    1. Fiona, then I am in EXCELLENT company! Thanks so much for being here (and please excuse my tardy response).

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  3. I won't panic. If I get ill I pray I don't spread it to others. But small town Living, I think it's much less likely. :) and if I die.... glory! Nothing else will matter. #12 this week

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    1. Annette, that's an excellent perspective. Thanks for sharing it! (And please pardon my late reply.)

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  4. Thank you Andrew for your thoughts and some sanity in all this mess. All this fear is a liar. I find it hilarious that we are experiencing a toilet paper shortage due to panic over a respiratory virus but I'm a little weird that way. Be smart but keep enjoying life. Praying for you as always.

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    1. Duane, I find the TP panic hilarious, too. Recently a semi hauling TP was ransacked in ABQ. Really????

      Thank you so much for being here, and especially for the prayers (and I'm sorry for not replying sooner, had internet and physical issues).

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  5. Best essay ever. We love you two!!!

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    1. Susan, thank you so much...and we love you right back (and I'm sorry for not responding sooner).

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  6. Wise words as always! I love your perspective on this. We definitely need less panic and more truth!

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    1. Lesley, thank you so much...and yes, less panic, more truth! (And please pardon my tardy reply.)

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  7. Wise words! May we never 'hitch our wagons to a soap-bubble star!' Let's just hitch our hopes to Jesus.

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    1. Anita, yes...hitch 'em to The J! Love this! (And I'm sorry for the late response.)

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  8. This was such a helpful post! Thank you! Hope not fear, right?!

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    1. Tara, I'm so glad you liked it! Hope rule, yes! (And I am sorry for the tardy reply.)

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  9. I like your optimism and your post. Thanks, Andrew. Blessings to you and Barb.

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    1. Suzette, thank you so much...and blessings back! (And please forgive my late reply.)

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  10. I've always like that Casting Crowns' song, Andrew! And thanks for the calming reminder! You of all people could and maybe should be panicking but you're facing this with the same grace under fire that you've shown all throughout your own ordeal. I'm praying you and Barb stay free of the virus! And am grateful for your bravery on display here each week!

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    1. Beth, wow...I'm just so honoured by your affirming words (and so glad you like the song!)

      We're very grateful for your prayers; you are in ours. (And please excuse my delay in replying...both me and the internet here had troubles.)

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  11. Andrew, I always appreciate your perspective. There is much wisdom in your words and thoughts about COVID-19. We're trying to keep sanity and not let fear rule our decisions. Your poem was good. And I love that song. What a great one to share during this season!

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    1. Jeanne, thank you so much for this...I know it's hard to keep balanced in such a time as this, but if we keep encouraging one another, we'll come out fine.

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  12. HI Andrew, you of all people do not have to be sorry of the late reply! Again I am floored by your steadfastness in your present condition. I can't imagine!
    It does make sense.
    I love what you wrote: "I'm broken, and truly, in being broken, have become whole. The garment has become seamless, even though it be my burial shroud." Especially the last sentence. The thought has been brought up that the Christian life is a paradox. In your life that is reality, I see. Not in many of our lives but in yours. Thank you, brother, for fighting the good fight. And thanks to your wife as well. You make my heart and eyes well up. I thank the Lord that he has left you with us still, to give me (us) some indication of His grace in this crazy world. Thank you and thanking Him.

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    1. Ben, golly, I am just so humbled and honoured by your words.

      Both Barb and I do the best we can, with the byword that "sentiment is fine, but not sentimentality", and that's led both of us to look at the Christian paradox with cleaer hearts, and to see that in the transcendence of faith, there is no paradox at all.

      It is a continuum of love, and to borrow imagery from Sheldon Vanauken, while the mercies may be severe, they are both sufficient and necessary unto the task of salvation.

      And the severest of mercies contain the richest of blessings. Cancer has been that for me. I would not trade this moment, this day, this life. To quote Lou Gehrig, "I'm the luckies man on the face of the earth."

      And we're just so glad you're here!

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