Timeless

Last week I learned of the death of a friend from Covid-19. The first death of someone I know. The numbers are now real, and I’m drawn towards despair. Alan Isaacson was only 62 years old. One of the good guys. The husband of my friend. Someone who helped the mentally ill and the desperate. Someone with a lot more love to give.

So what can I do? First, send my love to the family, who are experiencing unimaginable, unexpected grief.

Then what?

Ironically, the answer comes from Martin Luther in a 1527 letter to a friend, who had asked what a Christian should do during the plague. Luther wrote, "I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine, and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order to not become contaminated and thus perchance infect and pollute others."  493 years later, a reminder of another way to express love—keeping ourselves and others as safe as possible. Thanks to Pastor David Brandfass for calling this quotation to my attention.

You write it: How do you express love for yourself and others during this time?