Current events have driven us to isolation.
‘Social Distancing’ has caused us to recede from our friends, jobs, communities, and ultimately society. This isolation is not inherently bad, introspection is certainly beneficial, but there are two factors that must be considered: 1. humans are inherently social creatures, 2. isolation breeds selfishness. Weakened by separation from our tribes/herds, we are left vulnerable. Alone and afraid we act rashly out of fear, further sever our connection with greater humanity, and refocus energy to ensure our personal comfort above all else.
While this current situation is novel for us, the underlying human experiences of solitude, fear, and selfishness are not. Think for a moment on the story of Jesus birth. A teenager mother in a foreign town suddenly goes into labor and cannot find anywhere for this birth to occur.
“While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.”
Luke describes this event rather matter-of-factly, but think for a moment on the situation Mary found herself in. Forced far from her family and friends by a government mandate, Mary went into labor without a plan. Furthermore, there was none to provide respite, save an inn-keeper that offered a barn.
Likewise, we are in the midst of an incredibly disruptive situation that has derailed our plans and left us at a loss. Whether we find ourselves in in a situation like Mary, alone and desperate, or are more akin to the Inn-keeper with space in excess, we are all going to be tested in this period.
In the midst of this great uncertainty, one thing is certain: needs are abundant and omnipresent. Be they physical, social, or spiritual, we can make the difference by meeting the needs of people in our proximity. Our challenge is to be a better town to our neighbors than Bethlehem was to Mary. With our efforts, this event can be marked as one that brought us all closer together vice apart.