#reverend schaefer

By Pastor Frank Schaefer, 04-02-2020. What's the point of blaming others for the Corona virus? I cannot believe what I'm reading and hearing on social media and the news. Blaming the Chinese, Asians in general, or the news media doesn't make sense. It's downright hateful.  Some right-wing religious leaders have even blamed the spread of Covid-19 on the LGBTQ+ community. Maybe blaming others is a human way of dealing with a crisis. However, it is arguably the wrong way. Why? It seems to me that it is externalizing our feelings.  I've seen it before in many pastoral care situations over the years: often, when people are overwhelmed, they can't face their true feelings and externalize them. Instead of addressing their inner fears, in this case, the fear of death or loss, they shift their emotional gear box to "anger." It may seem easier to be angry at others than to address our true feelings, but it's not healthy. My spiritual advice is this: look into soul and identify your true emotions. If you feel fear, know that it's ok to be afraid in a pandemic like this. Feeling fear is totally human. God understands. It's not a sign of weakness or lack of faith. We should give ourselves a break. It's also ok to feel sadness, anger (unless its blame-shifting anger) and loneliness. We are not alone in this. Pretty much all of us run the whole gamut of human emotions during this time of extreme crisis. Don't be afraid of facing your feelings. Allow yourself to feel them. You are allowed to fret, grieve and cry. As you do you will notice that these are means of coping and overcoming. And, as we do, with God's help we will get to a better emotional place; a place of newly found strength and faith from which we can extend a helping hand to others. Amen!