A Message From The Publisher
But, up in arms now, the entire community was talking of hurling stones at them. Just then the bright Glory of God appeared at the Tent of Meeting. Every Israelite saw it. God said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me like dirt? How long refuse to trust me? And with all these signs I’ve done among them! I’ve had enough—I’m going to hit them with a plague and kill them. But I’ll make you into a nation bigger and stronger than they ever were.” Numbers 14:12 (MSG)
By Bobby R. Henry, Sr.
Now that we are overtaken in all of our communication platforms to include the technical atmosphere of social media, we can’t help but to see, read and hear about all of the sicknesses that are running rampant in our communities. I beg the question how do we maintain our soundness, our composure our swag?
This Wuhan Coronavirus has focused our attention on what has been happening right under our own noses. It’s like Chickenpox, Measles, Mumps and the Flu have taken some steroids and morphed into the $20,000,000,000 AI virus.
This is not new. A litany of viruses has invaded this country years ago. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) along with Asian and Hong Kong Flu cause severe infections mostly to the respiratory systems.
It’s as if viruses and their companions have frequent flyer miles and they freely come and go across any boarders they want to because their passports have governmental approval; they even have ‘Global Reentry’ privileges.
Warning people about this virus outbreak reminds me of the children’s story of Chicken Little. Nobody would believe or listen to him because of his reputation. After Chicken Little causes widespread panic, when he mistakes a falling acorn for a piece of the sky, the young chicken is determined to restore his reputation. But just as things are starting to go his way, a real piece of the sky lands on his head. Chicken Little and his band of misfit friends, Abby Mallard (a.k.a. Ugly Duckling), Runt of the Litter, and Fish Out of Water, attempt to save the world without sending the town into a whole new panic.
Well, now perhaps some body is listening and let’s pray that it is not too late, even if a ‘band of misfits’ running the country refuses to accept the facts.
Will we give the much needed devotion and resources to address viruses and plagues that are not laboratory cleansed.
How can we continue to not address the every day plagues like homelessness, poverty, police brutality, the incarceration rates of people of color. Unemployment, lack of access to medical treatment, et al, are viruses and plagues that do harm to our existence.
How could they not be labeled as a virus – granted maybe not a medical virus – but a virus just the same. Along with the attention given to the coronavirus-19, what about the virus being permeated in the political atmosphere? What is a virus? Let us look a one definition that perhaps could sum up the entire characteristic of what a virus: a harmful or corrupting influence.
If we can agree to that explanation then it would be safe to say that we are constantly surrounded and bombarded by viruses.
So, while we mask up and put on those scientific looking blue gloves, why not roll up our sleeves and get right down to the real nitty gritty and start serving the needs of those less fortunate and who would be more-than-likely suffer from the effects of all the viruses.
Dear God, in the name of Jesus, plagues and viruses are nothing new to You. Please keep us focused on those who suffer the most from the viruses and plagues of neglect: the least, the lost, left out and the lonely. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
LOVE IS THE VIRUS THAT WILL NOT KILL HURT OR DESTROY. WHY NOT SPREAD IT