The coronavirus has affected us all in ways great and small. For some, it’s a minor inconvenience or change in lifestyle. For others, it could be potentially life threatening or career changing. I hope the impact upon your life has been relatively minor. I suppose we all have reason to dislike Covid-19, but I really do hate it, and this is why.
In early March, we had found something on YouTube that brought me a lot of hope and optimism. Apparently, there is a doctor who uses the drug, Etanercept, in an unconventional and controversial treatment for stroke patients. This drug, commonly known as Embrel, produces not only significant results in some, but at the risk of sounding cliche, miraculous results in others.
In video after video, we witnessed patients who came in stuttering and stammering, but after the treatment, regained eloquence and clarity. A woman, walking with great difficulty, was soon salsa dancing with her husband. Men, who entered the clinic, disabled in their hands and feet, suddenly regained their finger dexterity, demonstrated martial arts moves, and even began jogging up-and-down the hallway. I watched in tears as I envied their excitement, joy of life, restored agility, and sharpness of mind. It seemed too good to be true. We called the office and spoke to a receptionist. We were shocked at the price and dismayed at how far away their only clinic was. Still, we committed it to prayer and the more we thought about it, the more we realized that we had to take a chance on this new and unusual treatment. We decided to call for an initial consultation the first chance we got.
Around the same time, my son came home with an eye infection. This soon progressed in typical fashion, at first a fever, then a prolonged illness, next his sister caught the bug, and finally, so did I. However, when I got the infection, it turned into severe laryngitis and I couldn’t talk at all. No big deal, we would simply call the office when my speech returned. One day turned into two, which turned into a week, and then two weeks… then everything went Covid-19 crazy. Mandates started flying from the lips of our government leaders. The nightly news began to talk about hotspots like New York, New Jersey, and sure enough, Florida, where the only clinic for this avant-garde treatment existed.
Now, as I’m finally getting my voice back, it’s probably unsafe and irresponsible for me to travel to Florida with my family of four. Who knows, we might not be able to enter the Sunshine state or come back to California once we leave. In any case, Lillian has told me in no uncertain terms that traveling to Florida during the time of coronavirus is a definite no-go. So when I tell you that I really hate Covid-19, it’s more than merely not going to Starbucks for my morning espresso. It’s a vendetta. The coronavirus is ruining my chance to regain any semblance of my former self. It is keeping me imprisoned, not just “shelter-in-place,” but imprisoned to this lame, insipid, and loathsome disability that I have to endure every day. I hate Covid-19!
Ironically, I’m struggling with this major disappointment on Palm Sunday. I find it ironic because when Jesus rode into Jerusalem over 2000 years ago according to Zechariah’s prophecy, it also spawned major disappointment … in everyone. The people would become dismayed that Jesus’ mission was not to deliver them from their Roman oppressors. Jesus was heartbroken because He knew the people heralding Him would soon turn on Him, demanding that He die on a cross. The disciples, elated by the swell of public support, would soon be so distraught that each of them would flee for their lives, hiding in shame and secrecy. Yes, there would be terrible disappointment!
So what do we do when we face crushing disappointment with God? We trust Him, knowing that disappointment now means greater blessing later.
- Though Jesus wouldn’t deliver the Jews politically, He would soon deliver the whole world spiritually.
- Though the disciples would never reign on Earth, they would eventually reign with Christ in Heaven.
- Though Jesus would be rejected by the local people, someday every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. (Philippians 2:10-11)
- Though Jesus would have to lay down His life on the cross, God would raise Him back to life to reign as everlasting King. (Luke 1:33)
Even though no one received the immediate gratification they wanted, it was better for all that Jesus gave His life a ransom for the world. (Matthew 20:28)
Pray that I will trust His intentions for me are always good, no matter what the circumstances may be at the moment. A “No,” now, just means a much bigger “Yes,” tomorrow. As Tony Campolo used to say, “It may be Friday night…But Sunday’s comin!”
P.S., Here is a news clip on this controversial treatment: