USA (MNN) — We weren’t made for social distancing, but it might be an opportunity to examine our potentially half-hearted interactions with others.
With roughly 20% of the world population in lockdown, Beth Matheson from Wycliffe USA points out social distancing has revealed how hollow our in-person interactions often are. “We all are pretty good at the social niceties of, ‘Hi, how you doing? I’m fine.’ But I think a lot of us now are realizing that you need more than that.”
The devotional
The new Wycliffe devotional Lessons from Lesser Knowns is intended to be used in a group of people having dinner together. But Matheson says this kind of interaction can be done over the internet as well. People have more ways to connect now than ever before, and Matheson encourages Christians to make their interactions with other people meaningful.
Map of worldwide lockdowns due to the coronavirus. (Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
And to do that, our interactions must be grounded in the Gospel. The devotional features six different Bible passages, but not the kind you might see at women’s conferences or in a craft store. “These are forgotten and overlooked passages that talk about how God loves people who are forgotten and overlooked. He wants his people to have the same heart for marginalized people.”
The devotional comes with international recipes for each lesson, and Matheson encourages Christians to visit Wycliffe.org/dinnerparty to learn more.
The grip of fear
Matheson points out that the world has been gripped with fear during the virus outbreak. Many Americans are having to think about medical care and food, wondering if they will have access. “What we’re experiencing right now with this current crisis is really just a sliver of what millions of people around the world experience every day. And these people not only lack access to basic necessities and basic medical care, they lack access to God’s word.”
Matheson encourages Christians to pray for each other during the isolation, and encourages them to find comfort in the Bible, the story of God and His people that does not change.
And pray that the quarantines will come to an end soon so that we would have deeper, more meaningful interactions as we eat and live with each other.
Americans are being asked to stay home, and away from other people. (Header image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)
