We thank God that COVID-19 cases are decreasing in our community in British Columbia. As we see an increase of COVID-19 vaccinations and a decrease of hospitalizations, we all pray and hope that this will be our last summer of restrictions and quarantines. We have great anticipation of things going back to normal soon.
Despite significant changes to our lives during the pandemic, our spiritual journey did not stop during the COVID-19 crisis. Even though there were challenges, we persevered with the help of God. We saw God working in our lives. We learned. From my own journey through the pandemic, God taught me lessons and experiences that I am grateful for. God helped me reflect and realize who He is. He revealed to me the importance of human relationships and how we are designed to relate to one another. He brought focus in my life on what is important.
I’d like to share with you three lessons I learned during the pandemic.
BE CALM
I’ve been a physician for more than two decades and I have never experienced anything like the COVID-19 pandemic in my clinical practice. During the early days of the pandemic, I must admit that I was a bit anxious about treating COVID-19 patients. Little was known about the SARS-CoV-2 virus at the time. We only knew that it is very contagious and that it causes severe pneumonia, requiring many patients to be on oxygen and ventilators to help them breath. Mortality was high among infected patients, and evidence for effective treatment was scant.
When I had my first COVID-19 patient who needed to be on a ventilator and I had to perform a high-risk procedure of endotracheal intubation, I wondered if I would be infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. I didn’t want to infect my family, and as a result, I decided to isolate myself from them for 2 weeks. By the grace of God, I didn’t get infected. As I encountered more COVID-19 patients, I felt more comfortable, and God gave me the courage to continue my work at the hospital. Throughout the past 15 months, I felt God’s protection and His faithfulness in taking care of me. He brought calmness into my heart in the midst of the COVID-19 storm.
This reminds me of the narrative of our Lord Jesus Christ calming the storm (Matt 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25). The Disciples asked Jesus, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” Our Lord Jesus Christ then calmed the storm and said, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” I reflected on the narrative and realized that sometimes our faith is weak. However, I am thankful that our loving God is faithful in taking care of us in the midst of the storms in our lives.
BE KIND
I believe the best and the worst of people are revealed in times of crisis. COVID-19 pandemic, for example, brought out some of the worst facets of humanity. Anti-Asian hate crimes were rampant. Stories of people hoarding things that they might not need. People lied to cut in line for the COVID-19 vaccine. In crisis, people often become afraid. As a result, a common psychological reflex is to focus on oneself and mistreat others.
I also saw the best in people during the pandemic. Kindness, thoughtfulness and helpfulness are often brought out in times of crisis. I was so touched by the generosity of the community in supporting hospital workers during the pandemic. We received donations of personal protective equipment, food from various local restaurants as a gesture of thanks, and well wishes from school children, just to name a few. It was powerful to see how the community rallied together to get through the pandemic crisis.
Our church family was no exception in demonstrating kindness, thoughtfulness and helpfulness. We saw various people at Res, staff and volunteers, step up to serve the rest of the Res family and the community. Several people faithfully spent countless hours each week setting up the online service so that we could worship God together for the past 15 months. Meals on Wheels continued to minister to those in need. Prayer groups continued to pray for those struggling or in illness. Children ministry staff and helpers continued to find creative ways to cater to our children’s spiritual needs. I’m proud to be part of this kind and loving church family where Christ’s love is revealed through kindness.
The Bible says in Colossians 3:12-14:
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Simple kindness and love make a huge difference in people’s lives. As we come out of the pandemic, let us not forget to continue our kindness and love to those around us.
BE SAVED
COVID-19 is a devastating disease. I had couple of friends whose lives were cut short because of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. No one expected it, and their deaths came as a surprise. Even though I saw COVID-19 deaths at the hospital, the fact that I knew them personally made their deaths even more heart-breaking. Their passing reminded me once again the brevity of life. It reminded me that there is an urgency to share the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to those around us. I was reminded that the love of God is not to be kept for ourselves. The gift of the Gospel is to be shared as a blessing to those around us. The pandemic showed me that, at the end of our lives, what really matters is our relationship with God, and whether we have received the free gift of salvation by the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Bible says in Romans 10: 9-10:
If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Have you been saved by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ? Have you shared the saving grace of Lord Jesus Christ to people around you who don’t know the Gospel yet?
Be calm. Be kind. Be saved. As I reflect on my experiences throughout the pandemic, I give thanks to God for His protection and love through the past 15 months. God is good no matter what circumstances we are in. He loves us so much that He gave His precious Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for each one of us. Our role is to believe and have faith in Him. Our response to His love is to love people around us.
As we move towards a post-quarantine church, let us reflect on what God has done in our lives. What lessons did you learn during the pandemic? We’d love to hear from you.