Whenever I am out in public, and I sneeze or slightly cough, I immediately find myself announcing to the whole world around me, “It’s just allergies.” And it is just an allergy. I know that because I have had them for more than 50 years so I am very experienced at the reaction they cause me. Pollen gets to me. And for some reason the pollen this year seems exceptionally bad. We had a major downpour with lots of wind on Tuesday and by the next morning, my car was covered in the yellow pollen I consider to be a nightmare. I knew I was going to be affected all day on Wednesday and I was. So I ended up “sharing” my health status quite frequently during the day.
It’s just usually one small dry cough or a quick sneeze, but I feel this need to let the people around me know it’s not Covid. Most of them seem appreciative to hear me say it (the rest don’t care or didn’t hear me to begin with), but nobody finds it out or strange when I make that pronouncement. You can actually physically see some people relax.
But if I stood in Redner’s and instead pronounced Jesus as Savior of the world to the crowd around me, I think most people would find that extremely odd and uncomfortable. I get they want to be assured they are not at risk from the virus, but would it not be better for them to hear that God is in control?
Mark 16:15 reads, “And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.’” While knowing I am not going to make anyone sick is comforting for those I come in contact with (while staying six feet apart), the Gospel is the true source of peace. How then can we find ways to share the good news of Jesus as easily and as public as we do the status of a deadly virus? How can we make hearing about the joy of salvation as natural as checking the daily statistics on the Delaware Coronavirus website? I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. How can we bring the honor and glory to God always and forever?
Pastor Wendy