Sept 7th, 2021: Can We Really Love One Another?
What is the truth of all of this? I struggle. I don't believe that we should use our freedom as a way to act irresponsibly. I am not sure that governments should have an overarching power either. There is enough government interference with how we educate our children and care for their well-being. Health care and education are the two most treasured aspects of life, and governments have done more than enough to control us.
As much as I respect people who don't believe in vaccination, I think people should respect businesses and other public bodies that exercise their choices to protect their employees and patrons.
People still want to argue about whether this virus is that dangerous. I have met people who contracted the virus and recovered. Some were sicker than others. Some were hospitalized, and others were not. I have also known people who have lost their loved ones because of this virus. So we can have different conclusions about coronavirus depending on our experience.
What does it mean to love our neighbors regardless of what the governments decide to do? That might be the question we should ask.
1. I decided to be vaccinated because I want to be available to people who ask for my help, and they don't have to be afraid of being infected. I would also like to see my family because we are spread out all over the world. Some parts of the world are more impacted by this virus than others, and they don't need my help to make things worse.
2. I don't fully understand the science behind vaccine designs, but I have enough information from people I can trust to reach the level of comfort I need. I also know that no vaccine is full proof. That is the truth about any medication anyhow. One more thing, why have we not received any instruction from our public health officials about boosting our immune system?
3. We live in a broken world, so nothing is perfect in terms of our attempt to deal with human misery. Seeking perfection most likely creates paralysis. After all, we have consumed food and drink without asking about the long-term impact they might have on our health.
4. Here is my pragmatic approach in dealing with the fear that the vaccines will kill me. That will be the instant grand prize for me anyway. Why should I be afraid of death? The only certainty we have is the uncertainty of life. Assuming otherwise is a futile exercise in living.
5. Many hospitality businesses have suffered because of restrictions. Many young people are struggling with isolation. Families are having a hard time not being able to see one another.
1 Corinthians 13: 1-3
"I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned but have not love, I gain nothing."
