Alright, as promised it’s time to get REAL!
This pandemic has molded the world more than anything we’ve seen in our generation. I wasn’t alive during the Vietnam War, or during the Civil Rights movement. However, you see the accounts, the videos, and you hear your parents or grandparents talk about it, which gives you a general idea of how the country was changed through those events. However, the WORLD has been effected by COVID-19, not just the United States. Yet, Americans tend to be selfish—and if you can’t admit that, then you may be in denial. Personally, you yourself may not be selfish—in fact I pray you are very giving and selfless or at least strive to be. But—as a nation—we are selfish. Have no fear, I include myself among you.
Two summers ago, I went on my first cruise for my honeymoon. My wife and I had a wonderful time, but that’s another story for another time. What sticks out to me at this moment was our first stop on our cruise in Haiti. We had paid for a shore excursion which took us to a nearby village. The excursion was a delightful exposure to the culture of the people of Haiti. Our guide was very engaging, funny, and charismatic. However, as we were on the boat to return to our cruise ship, we went by the actual village itself—where the people who just entertained us most likely lived. My eyes were exposed to the poverty of a Third-world country. This happened again as we took a bus tour through Jamaica. Americans take the roof over their heads for granted, the internet access, smartphones, the numerous comforts we enjoy. I saw kids who loved Jesus, and laughed and played (with no shoes), I saw people who fished for their food. I saw houses with no roofs because they needed to work more to attain the funds to build it themselves so they lived with no roof until they could afford one. Yet, there are those of us who complain about putting a piece of cloth over our faces when we go to the grocery store. I do not say this in judgment, but rather I pray this statement will open your eyes and for you to push away hate and embrace gratitude. Be thankful for what you have. Inconvenience yourself to show love to one another.
I’d like to give FIVE examples of how you can love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus utters this commandment in the book of Matthew THREE times—in chapters 5,19, and 22. Also, its all throughout the Old and New Testament such as Leviticus, Galatians, James, and Romans. Let’s dive in:
1: WEAR A MASK IN PUBLIC
Pretty self-explanatory. Wear a mask and wear it properly. That means wear it over your mouth and over your nose. Too many times I’ve been at a store and I see a person’s mask over their chin. I mean, what’s the point? Yes, it can be hard to breathe sometimes, but instead of putting others and yourself at risk, find a solution. Do some research on how to improve your mask. I was wearing a mask in a cave in Colorado (talk about a place thats already hard to breathe) and I struggled, but I didn’t die from lack of oxygen. When we came back home, my wife ordered some very inexpensive silicone face mask brackets that you can find on Amazon here. Also, if those don’t do the trick for you, you can try these. Your lives matter—other lives matter—take care of each other by cleaning your mask and wearing your mask properly in public (not on your chin)
2: STAY 6 FEET AWAY FROM EACH OTHER
I get it, its hard to stay 6 feet away from each other when this person is blocking the aisle with their cart (for us southerners a “buggy”). I don’t see a problem with saying “excuse me” and giving that person a moment to clear the way, but also if you need to squeeze past someone there shouldn’t be an issue if you and them are following STEP 1. Just don’t linger. Squeeze by and move on, but do it kindly. Try not to be that person who has to make a point to another by showing them how wrong they are by inconveniencing you. Trust me, I know both sides of this coin and my wife makes sure she holds me accountable. I speak to myself as much as I speak to you right now. I know there are some stores that are taking away the 6 feet markers on the floor, but we all can gauge six feet and we all can stand on a marker that companies went out of their way to create and place everywhere that requires people to stand in line. I was standing in line the other day to order some ice cream and this person behind me with her kids (none of which had masks on) got right over my shoulder to point to something on the menu sign next to me. She demonstrated to her children the wrong thing to do, and made me uncomfortable. For me, it was annoying, but to someone who is high risk it could’ve been lethal. C’mon man, just stay 6 feet away from each other when standing for long periods of time. If you can read a STOP sign, you can follow the markers on the ground that are literally EVERYWHERE! Teach your kids to do the same. And as always, do it with kindness.
3: WASH YOUR HANDS
Why does this need to be explained? I mean, really? Wash your hands, use soap, and hand sanitizer when warranted. Personally, I never liked shaking hands anyway, so no big loss to me. Everyone has just come even to my level of being a germaphobe, lol. Anytime you touch a public surface, wash your hands before touching your face, other people, or eating. If you are high risk, I even encourage wearing gloves. Let us pray for the days when we can hug each other and not fear for our lives by touching a door handle. But, even in those days to come, you should still wash your hands… with soap please.
4: HOW TO HANDLE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT FOLLOW 1-3
So, you may ask: “What do I do when people do not wear a mask, social distance, or wash their hands?” I’m glad you asked. First things first, please please please try not to acost them or bully them. Remember, Jesus said: Love your neighbor as yourself. So, say you forgot your mask, and you only just realized it when someone yells at you for not wearing one. You’d either be very angry (defensive) or feel attacked (verbal assault). You would not like that very much if someone screamed at you, or was rude to you. Soooooo, why would you do that to someone else? Be kind to one another. But then you ask. “What if they don’t care that they aren’t wearing a mask, social distancing, or washing their hands?” I’m glad you asked that too. Hopefully, if you are an employee of said establishment, you would kindly ask this person that it is your company’s policy that every patron must wear a mask and follow social distancing guidelines or they cannot be there. If you are not an employee, then you can either ask that person directly if you are so bold, and do it lovingly. If they are still defiant, maybe it’s an opportunity for you to engage in a conversation with them about why its important to society, or how its just COMMON COURTESY (see what I did there?). You could even see why they are so defiant, hear their story, and have a chance to minister to them if they are receptive to it. Try not to force your beliefs on people, just reach out a loving (imaginative) hand to them. If they slap it away, follow the words of Jesus in Luke 10:11 NLT: “We wipe even the dust of your town from our feet to show that we have abandoned you to your fate.”
It’s just not your place to fix them. Perhaps God has another plan and another time. Just protect yourself and your loved ones and distance yourself. For those of you who say, “I’m not one to engage with that person, so what do I do?” I’m with you, I don’t like to tell people what they should or shouldn’t do, but I’m upset that they aren’t following the rules. Point them out to an employee or authoritative figure. “Isn’t that just being a tattle-tale?” Why yes, yes it is. Is being a tattle-tale better than getting COVID-19? Why yes, yes it is.
5: HELPING HIGH-RISK AND/OR THE FRONT LINES
If some of you who are not at risk and can do more to help elderly and/or high risk individuals aka love your neighbor, you should do that. Run errands for them, go shopping for them, help them feel safe. You can do the same for nurses and other medical personnel (individuals on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19). These people are in need of a home-cooked meal, or have no time and/or energy to grab something for dinner, go shopping for groceries, etc. See what they need, and help fill that need. Follow Steps 1-4 when doing this. Spread Love, not COVID-19 and together we can get through this pandemic and get back to live events, church services, school, movie theaters, vacations, fully packed restaurants, and seeing our loved ones smile without a piece of cloth blocking it. Be kind to one another and show them the love of Christ in all things. Love over Hate.
“This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.” 1 Corinthians 12: 25-27 NLT
Jason Skinner 
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