Many of us are quarantined within the walls of our homes. For those who have to work to continue to serve our daily needs, thank you. For those of us that feel like we are stuck in time-out for way too long, we need to discover ways that we can serve others and be selfless during this time. A crisis will always reveal our true hearts and souls. It will reveal if we are selfless or selfish.
It is not about you. Those five words are critical in this pandemic. Being quarantined is not about you not getting the disease, but to keep you from being a carrier to others whose immune systems may not be able to defeat this disease. Once we change our mindset that we can live by faith and live selflessly at the same time, we change the dynamic of any crisis. Staying away from people does not mean we cannot create a better world.
Many of us have been given extra time to create. Some people during this time will be selfless enough to create something beautiful for the world. While being quarantined from the bubonic plague, Sir Isaac Newton discovered the theory of gravity along with other valuable physic theories that created a better world. It is believed that William Shakespeare wrote King Lear during the black plague when he was quarantined. Creating, cleaning, discovering new innovative inventions, learning more about a subject that you want to teach, learning a new language, cooking and baking, or doing any of the arts could all be used to serve others. We have the time to create, even if it is only an hour a day. It’s an hour that we may not have used before this crisis. Let’s use it now so that our work and creativity today will serve someone in the future.
Another way to be selfless is to not wallow in our loneliness and reach out and call someone. I know I have to be more diligent about this. We have become a society where most people text. Now is the time to actually speak with someone and have a conversation. We need to discover how our friends and family are doing through this crisis. We don’t have to have the answers for them. We just need to listen. Most people don’t want you to answer their problems or their situation. Most people just want someone to be there who is willing to listen. Let’s be selfless and be that person for someone else. We all need to give some time to the elderly and communication is vital.
There are other ways to communicate. We have discovered Zoom, which is an online conferencing website that has been a life savior during this time. We can use Zoom beyond business and set up Bible studies and book clubs, or game nights or whatever way we can connect with others. Social media does not have to be evil if we use it to connect with friends and family. We don’t have to be jealous of people posting their positive accomplishments. We can rejoice because we know that their long journey has come to fruition and that we can use it as an inspiration for our own desires. Selflessness allows us to rejoice with those who rejoice. We can reach out to those far away with social media and connect and encourage our friends and family.
Selflessness guides us to share our resources. If you are able to go out and gather supplies, gather some for an elderly neighbor or to donate to a mission. If you have the resources, give financially to places that are serving others such as hospitals, the missions, churches, schools for meals, etc. Being selfless is the best way to live during these times. It will create selflessness in the future when we are no longer quarantined to our homes.
Selfishness brings hoarding, fear, anger and bitterness. We have watched so many people in our society for the past century live in selfishness. They live by fear; they are angry; their anger turns to bitterness, which leads to choices that harms themselves and others. We can change that now. We are being given the opportunity to make that turn.
Let’s turn this around and be selfless and show the love of Jesus with our actions. We will be healthy in our soul, our body, and our heart. Our relationships will strengthen if we all are selfless. It’s not easy. If it were, everyone would already be doing it. Anything worth doing is never easy, but it’s always worth it. May we all live the life worth living as we live selflessly, just like the most selfless act of God. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
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