When Prevention Feels Like a Waste of Time

In the face of a pandemic, we absolutely do not need to panic. But we do need to take preventative measures.

Things are closing down so that more people don’t get sick. In the Bible there’s a story about a prophet named Jonah. He prophesies to a great city called Nineveh. He says “in 40 days the great city will be destroyed.” Well the King of Nineveh gets all the people together and gets them to repent. The Bible says he even put sackcloth on the cows so they could take part in repentance. Well God saw their repentance and relented from destroying the city. After 41 days, the city was still there.

I wonder if people said, “see King? There was nothing to worry about! What was all that fuss about? You ruined our routine and you took away our basketball tournament and for what? The city is still here.” I wonder.

But if the King hadn’t taken protective measures, the city would have fallen.

Don’t panic, but let’s take protective measures. News is that school is out for a couple of weeks. Let’s stay home as much as we can and try to avoid spreading germs. Wash your hands. If you have to go somewhere, as many of us will for work and other necessities, be kind and considerate. We live in a time where we can do a lot remotely.

Call your neighbors and see if they need anything. But if in 40 days all is well, remember that it might be because we responded properly to the threat.