So, the presumed leader of the free world has tested positive for coronavirus — the man who has most downplayed and misrepresented this virus, a man who has endangered the lives of millions, the country’s president, a man responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths, a father, someone who has shown complete contempt for his fellow citizens, a human being. It is understandable and okay to not know how to feel. And it is okay to feel either compassion or contempt.
I’ve read a lot of responses so far…
“Karma.”
“A distraction.”
“He endangered himself and others.”
“The Dems will lack compassion.”
“The compassion is phony.”
“It’s in bad taste to hope the worst.”
“It’s in bad taste to ask for answers.”
“It’s in bad taste to wish criminal well.”
I don’t like him. I don’t hide it; it’s not a controversial position. I’m also a Christian, and I believe it is righteous and Christlike to pray for our enemies, to turn the other cheek, and to forgive even the worst of our debtors. I know there are people many like me.
My fiancĂ© spent her morning in deep and vocal conflict. And why not? It was natural to wish ill but her walk with Christ encouraged her to resist that instinct. Furthermore, she felt a responsibility to pray for his recovery, which only felt laborious, insincere, and immoral. Her feelings are not wrong — that’s the thing about feelings. Reactions aren’t invalid, and they don’t always need to be changed.
Friday night I tweeted:
You are not obligated to be pious. Your prayers do not need to be a counsel or advisement to the Lord. You do not need to be right or wrong. It is okay to “nothing” this man. It is human to be vengefully callous. It is not unfair to the victims of his deeds to pray that he recovers. And it is okay to just be a voter, a spectator, a hurt and confused citizen.
These events have not finished playing out. We lack many details. We lack confirmation of truths. Conspiracy theories are rampant right now, and not without reason. I’m writing this Friday night, and there are many questions: Why give a President an experimental treatment? Is the timing too convenient? Is it in his character to lie and to lie big? These are reasonable questions, particularly a month from an election.
Again, to be clear, I do not mean to advocate for any polar response to this news or for any particular outcomes… But our sanity is fragile and deserves our protection. Sometimes, the labor of forcing a moral position can cost us a sense of self as much as yielding to contempt can cost our inner peace. Ultimately, this is an event out of our control. Our reactions will not impact it. This is not a random tragic act of chance but the predictable result of irresponsible behaviors, which is equally possible to be sympathetic with and to condemn. In the middle of an already stressful year, don’t further burden yourself by over-analyzing the emotional responses of you and others. Let go. There is no need to be right, wrong, or in control. The Lord will do what He will. The river will flow where it flows.
Goodnight, and wear a mask.
The Favoring Wind 