Insidious and deadly, the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, has spread much more than severe illness and death. It has multiplied anxieties, sorely affected economies and proliferated survival mentalities throughout the globe. In the midst of these chaotic circumstances, we need calm, reassurance and perspective.
I asked several local religious leaders their words of wisdom and counsel for us all. My responses are from Barrington church clergy. I had inquired at Jewish and Islamic houses of worship and did not have a response from them as of this writing.
The Rev. David Jones, senior pastor of the Village Church shared his “balm” for anxiety:
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“What I would point them to, whether they have a faith perspective or not, is that there is a God who is in control. He is all powerful, and whatever may happen is not more powerful than Him. As a Christian I find great comfort in that, and also great confidence that nothing is going to happen ultimately that is outside of his will. So, that keeps me from panic or fear.”
Jones pointed out Scripture verses about fear: “II Timothy 1:7 says, ‘God gave us a spirit, not of fear, but of power, and love, and self-control.’ In I Peter 5:7, ‘Cast ye, all of your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.’ And so, when we feel anxious… we can go to God… and know that we are giving them over to a very powerful, heavenly father who cares about us.”
Lake Barrington resident and Lutheran Pastor Jane Kunzie-Brunner thinks that “we have a unique opportunity to rise and stand, making this our finest hour. We, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, are more than capable of reflecting the content of Christ’s character in the face of this challenge.”
The Rev. Bernie Pietrzak of St. Anne’s Community said: “As people of faith, we feel, without question, the sadness, the anxiety, even the fear of this moment that many people are walking through; and we hold in prayer and in our hearts all those who have been touched by this disease. It is in times like this that, as a faith community, we need to lean on each other to be a source of courage and hope.”
Father Pietrzak encourages everyone to act responsibly to government and church mandates in order to protect the public. “In terms of faith, if anyone would say that somehow this coronavirus is something of God’s doing, that would be ridiculous. As Christians, we don’t see God as a monster God who punishes, or who intentionally sends plagues for His people to deal with. God is with us through this, and accompanies us, from this time of challenge to a time of wholeness as we attempt to respond to this virus.”
Lutheran Church of the Atonement’s Senior Pastor Don Wink shared his wisdom: “Under more usual circumstances, we are oriented toward goals. And our primary social unit is ourselves as individuals, or perhaps our family. This time of the threat and spread of COVID-19, and social distancing as response, is jarring to both of these dynamics. We are in a time of high uncertainty,” he said, referencing the unknown aspects of this entire situation. “So much of the history in both the Old Testament and New Testament takes place during times of uncertainty, what we might call ‘in-between times.’ And the primary social unit among God’s people in the Bible is not the individual, but the whole community. … I am struck by the relevance of God’s words… I think that our people will find comfort and promise amidst uncertainty throughout the Bible, but especially in the Old Testament prophets, the Psalms, and the New Testament letters,” he said.
For those without faith, Jones offered: “There’s an old saying that there are no atheists in fox holes… Once the bullets start flying, people start praying to a God that they don’t even believe in…. Which tells me that there’s something deep inside of us that knows that we just didn’t get here by accident. Something doesn’t come from nothing. Something had to put us here. Something had to put this principle of life in motion… In a time of anxiety we often do look to something stronger outside of ourselves to help us. And so even a diehard atheist in a time of trouble, might even find themselves crying out, ‘Oh, God, help me!’
Pastor Kunzie-Brunner said: “God has an answer to your worries, fears and anxieties. All of those are quite real. God understands that. God will not minimize your experience, but in the midst of your storms, he will give you peace. Even when there is no storm, God will give you peace and accompany you through every circumstance.” She suggested reading Galatians and Philippians.
For those without faith, Pastor Wink said, “I would want to find common ground in hopes and dreams, to celebrate that which contributes to the common good, and to challenge each other to live into our highest aspirations of full and abundant life.”
Kimberly Albrecht is a Pioneer Press freelance columnist.