Who’s to Blame? : Duane W.H. Arnold, PhD
As you range across social media, it seems that everyone is looking for someone to blame. The targets of blame range from the rational to the conspiratorial. This seems to be especially true among people of faith. This, of course, is nothing new. For those familiar with Barbara Tuchman’s book, ‘A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century’, you will recognize similarities between the medieval reaction to the plague and modern social media reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic. We have not yet encountered processions of penitential Flagellants, but judging by the extreme reactions of some religious people to the current crisis, I would not be surprised.
What we are actually witnessing is a tragedy on a massive scale. Yes, it has been exacerbated by flawed decision making by leaders both here and in Europe and Asia. At its root, however, it is the result of living in a fallen creation, one in which the “rain falls on the just and the unjust alike”. Like Frodo Baggins, we all would say, “I wish none of this had happened” to which Gandalf gave the wise reply, “So do all who live to see such times but that is not for them to decide. All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you.”
The apportioning of blame can wait until this tragedy has passed. Committees can form and ascertain “who knew what when”. Elections can be held. For now, however, we as Christians need to decide what we are going to do with the time that has been given to us as this pandemic spreads. For myself, I hope our reaction will not consist in spending our waking hours apportioning blame, but instead, that it will be grounded in loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves. Most of us are currently isolated in some sense. For better or worse, we find ourselves in the semi-monastic world of The Benedict Option. We could do worse than to punctuate our time of isolation with regular times of prayer. Perhaps it will be the venerable tradition of Morning and Evening Prayer, or perhaps it will be the evening lamp lighting prayers of the Orthodox tradition. Whatever form it takes, during this time, let regular prayer shape the rhythm of your day. Prepare lists of those you will pray for in this time of tragedy and, when opportunity allows, reach out to them. Now is also an ideal time to read and to study. It may be a favorite old book revisited or it may be something you had always intended to read. Take the opportunity of this time for learning and reflection.
As to love of neighbor, it may seem a contradiction in terms in a time of self-isolation. Yet even in these circumstances we can reach beyond ourselves. First, it is love of neighbor that informs our self-isolation. We do not want to be an unwitting carrier or spreader of the virus. This IS love of neighbor. Additionally we can take the time to contact those whom we know who might be alone or frightened. Maintaining physical distance, we can still assist with food deliveries or make masks (if we possess that talent) in our homes. Perhaps most importantly, we can mourn with those who mourn. Many will lose someone they love and we can share in that loss. We most likely cannot answer the age old question of “Why?”, apart from saying that is the same question Christ asked on the Cross. This time of tragedy offers us the time to consider our conduct as followers of Christ. It is a crisis… it is also an opportunity for love and service.
This crisis may not end quickly, but it will eventually run its course. It will be a time of loss, but it may also be a time of growth, of love and of caring.
Thank you, Duane.
This needed to be said and shared…
Michael
We all have our political views, but at this time we need to be Church, first and foremost…
This is a wonderful article, Duane.
Xenia
Many thanks. My wife and I now say the Phos Hilarion each evening as we light the candle in a lampada in the “beautiful corner” followed by a prayer for individuals we know who have contracted the virus…
“Gladsome Light”
Bishop Irenei of England is giving talks several times a week that are very helpful.
Diocese of Great Britain and Western Europe, Russian Orthodox Church Abroad
https://www.facebook.com/ROCORinEurope/
Those were encouaging words. Thank you Duane.
Thank you Duane. I have been pretty political since this president has been in office. But I totally agree, now is not the time to assign blame. Now is the time for prayer and reflection, as you wrote. And love, as we as believers are called to walk in always. In my community, there has been a Facebook group established for people in our city to both seek and offer help to their neighbors. It’s wonderful to behold. May God keep all who read this blog and their families safe and well.
Erunner
Many thanks!
It’s interesting, but encouraging to hear, from people who I never would have guessed are pious, and perhaps many of them are not religious at all, but a consistent message I am hearing from health professionals and politicians who actually get it, is that the mitigation efforts we are being asked to engage in during this pandemic, many of which no doubt are cramping or style, are “for the benefit of our neighbor.” We are being asked to suffer the inconvenience of “stay home” for the benefit of the vulnerable in our midst.
What is regrettable is that this message of love for the least of us is not the public message of America’s Christian thought leaders, who are more concerned with political stunts and fighting against the government, but it is the message of people who do not lead with their religiousity, so we don’t even know whom or what they worship. Thus, we are shamed
Mike
God bless you and your community… the time for politics will come again, but now we have other concerns.
Jean
I agree. The Falwells of this world have brought shame… not honor.
Jean,
I certainly don’t consider “America’s Christian thought leaders” to be that. In fact, I’d say those folks that you referenced are NOT our Xn thought leaders. There are plenty of other folks, good pastors and theologians, whom are muc wiser. They just don’t get the media attention.
bob1
Maybe that is part of the lesson to be learned…
Yes, what bob1 just said above !
This is may be a strategic failure all around the world, from the federal levels down to states, municipalities and individuals. Australia did it right in 1918 to close the continent and when the influenza finely arrived, it had mutated into a less lethal form, saving them from what the rest of the world suffered. But that’s a story in the past.
There are certainly more than enough tactical failures around the world to which to assign blame, yet that’s missing the big picture. Hopefully, all levels can come together after this is past to formulate a stronger preparedness plan. Working through the political, cultural, and bureaucratic inertia will be difficult, yet it needs to be done.
My former boss, who turned me onto reading The Great Influenza a decade ago, has been pouring over the CDC page and he told me this morning (by phone) that their mask recommendations are incomprehensible. He posited that part of it may be due to not wanting liability. I said that it sounded like it was made for professionals like our health and safety prefessionals to summarize and communicate to “civilians.” He said that even our professionals would have a hard time of it. We have chem labs, and we’re not ignorant of these things. We know about radiation, chemicals, SDSes, appropriate PPE, emergency response (I used to be an ERT). We have to in our jobs. I said that they should have a comprehensive chart which shows which mask protects against which chemical and particles, down to the nanometer. Easy to understand for lay people. He said, “that’s how an engineer thinks.”
A good word, Duane! I’m finding politics will use us and leave us spent, but the Lord and his love never will. Saw this post from a cousin on Facebook. There’s a lot of wisdom here: https://www.wildrevelation.com/coronavirus-quarantine-advice-from-a-cloistered-nun/
Linnea
This time of self-isolation has lessons for us to learn…