I hesitate to write this knowing full well that many articles have been written on this topic, but maybe my voice needs to be heard as well. I haven’t even fully thought through everything.

In light of the global pandemic taking place right now, many people are reacting in a variety of ways. I've seen so many different reactions to this outbreak that I can't even keep up with all of the different ones.

Some people are rushing to stores to stockpile supplies.

Some people are blaming the president and the government, saying that it's a conspiracy to control the population and rig the election. 

Some say that the media is blowing the whole thing out of proportion trying to create panic and get better ratings. 

Some say North Korea released the virus as an act of biological warfare. 

Some say it's a test run for the government to determine how much it can control its citizens. 

Some say that it's absolutely nothing at all, and there's nothing to be afraid of.

Some people of faith have essentially indicated that God will protect us regardless.

Now I'm not saying that God is incapable of protecting his people. I know that God wants us to be faithful, but I also know that He wants us to be wise. It reminds me of the joke about the man in the flood.

A fellow was stuck on his rooftop in a flood. He was praying to God for help.

Soon a man in a rowboat came by and the fellow shouted to the man on the roof, "Jump in, I can save you."

The stranded fellow shouted back, "No, it's OK, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me."

So the rowboat went on.

Then a motorboat came by. "The fellow in the motorboat shouted, "Jump in, I can save you."

To this the stranded man said, "No thanks, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith."

So the motorboat went on.

Then a helicopter came by and the pilot shouted down, "Grab this rope and I will lift you to safety."

To this the stranded man again replied, "No thanks, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith."

So the helicopter reluctantly flew away.

Soon the water rose above the rooftop and the man drowned. He went to Heaven. He finally got his chance to discuss this whole situation with God, at which point he exclaimed, "I had faith in you but you didn't save me, you let me drown. I don't understand why!"

To this God replied, "I sent you a rowboat and a motorboat and a helicopter, what more did you expect?"

Responding to this pandemic in a reckless manner is not the best way to handle it. While many people may not be in direct danger from this virus, there are still others who could very easily succumb to it. You may very well be only 1 or 2 steps removed from someone who could be seriously affected. And to not take the necessary precautions to ensure the health and safety of as many people as possible is irresponsible.

When we get into our cars, we put on our seatbelts. When we get sick, we take medicine. When we break a bone, we go to the doctor. When we handle raw chicken, we wash our hands. Not because we don't think God can’t protect us, but because it's a safety precaution. 

In the same way, we should do our part and take necessary precautions for the health and safety of not just us but all of those that we come in contact with. There’s a quote from Martin Luther going around the internet that was written in a letter when a plague struck his town in 1527:

“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 not to become contaminated and thus perchance infect and pollute others, and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me, however, I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely, as stated above. See, this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God.”

Jesus told us to love our neighbors. If that means we take a risk when our neighbor is in need, then by all means, take that risk and have faith that God will take care of you. But at other times, when we aren’t needed, loving our neighbors means staying away. Our response in this circumstance should be love and grace, not panic. Be smart, and be safe. Enjoy time with your family. Take time to slow down. Love others.