It's no secret that COVID-19 has changed our lives. In some ways the changes are temporary, and in other ways they may be permanent. The unique experience that this pandemic has been for all of humanity is that no one really saw it coming. We joke about us having plans for the year just to watch them be wiped out by this virus. I certainly did not write that I would be staying home for months as a part of my 2020 goals. But, there's an underlying and unifying trait to this whole situation. Through the actions that have been taken, the research that's been done, the global disruption we've experienced, something has shown to be more important than ever. And that something is trust.
Now, trust is something that we all do every day, but we don't often consciously consider it. We trust that when we step outside and go for a drive that the gas-powered machine we're riding in won't explode and that those around us have been properly trained. When we go to work, we trust that we'll get paid and that the money we're earning will be worth something more than paper bills and plastic cards. We trust that the cookies our friend made us are safe to eat and that maybe they even taste good. Our modern societies are built on trust and without it, we would live in constant anxiety and fear, needing to live off the grid in some remote part of the world.
This pandemic, however, has exposed just how critical trust is during a time of crisis, and has led to us questioning others in ways we hadn't before. When top health officials say that there's a deadly virus spreading globally and advise you to wear a mask and stay away from others for safety, do you trust them? When your governor tells you to stay at home and orders non-essential businesses to close, do you trust that they're doing what's best? When there's unending division created by a president when they make one statement after another that's not supported by factual or evidence-based sources, who do you trust? When you go to the store, a routine act not long ago, do you trust that others are doing their part to keep you safe? Or are you trusting that there's nothing to worry about and are proceeding as normal? These past few months have shown us that trust is more of a question than a certainty, as we've all had to reconsider aspects of what had been our daily lives.
As a man of faith, I know that whatever happens here on Earth, God does not change and that he can always be trusted. There are many verses about trusting God, but one that is well known and stands out during this pandemic is Proverbs 3:5, which says "Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding." This one has two key elements to it, with the second half being what not to do and the first half being what to do instead. This strange, invisible phenomenon makes it look like nothing is wrong, and yet the world is in crisis. It is critical for us to remember that we cannot rely on our own understanding of the current situation to know how to act. So, what do we do when even the experts are only able to make recommendations based on the information available, while openly admitting that there are so many unknowns? We turn to God and trust in Him, knowing that He's not surprised by this and that His understanding is far beyond anything we as humans know. Trust is the foundation of any relationship, and trusting in an almighty God in our relationship with Him is no different, now or ever.
Just as it does anytime that it's lost, rebuilding trust beyond this pandemic is going to take time. There's simply no way around the fact that it will require a lot of effort and concrete corrective actions for us to trust in the things that were normal not long ago. It's going to take time for us to trust that riding public transportation or eating in a restaurant is safe again. It will take effort for us to trust sending our children to school and for people to return to the office in mass. One of the hardest challenges we face is that it's going to take time for us to trust having physical contact with our friends and families again. But as always, trust can be re-built. It will take our individual actions, as well as guidance from the experts. But, we can be hopeful in knowing that there will be normal life beyond this and we can trust in knowing that together, we can get there.
So, now that we know that trust is key to our daily lives and is especially needed if we are to return to any sense of normalcy, where do we go from here? Truly, it has to start with each one of us. In the same way that the pandemic has been slowed and lives have been saved by our individual actions, that have combined to create a global response, it's going to take the same kind of mindset for us to trust again. Trust that while you don't know what's best to do, there are people out there working tirelessly to try and come up with the answers. Trust that your actions matter and that by following the advice of those with the greatest expertise, you're doing your part to overcome this crisis. And trust that just as you want to have some idea of when this will be over so that you can get back to normal life, so does everyone else around the world. Ultimately, whatever life brings our way, through all of the highs and lows, what can we do but trust?
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