So What Faith

Greg Smith

Life in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic (#1859)

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This is a blog about matters of faith that matter. I used my two most recent posts for introductory content relative to how worship and ministry are changing as a result of COVID-19:

Personal Experience

I now realize that COVID-19 is changing everything.

  • Work: Amidst record unemployment filings, my wife and I remain employed. Her job has transitioned from being 100% on site to being 100% work from home while mine has moved to only doing on site the work that must be accomplished on site and completing other work from home.
  • Basic Needs: We’ve been able to acquire all of our basic needs through a blend of online and in store shopping. And, we’ve been creative about putting together new meals as needed when some of our preferred items were not in stock.
  • Stay at Home: Apart from work and basic needs, we are staying at home. (This means that we have suspended many of our normal activities, and are communicating with our family and friends virtually rather than in shared physical spaces.)
Home office. Photo by Greg Smith.

So What?

Life is different. The changes I outlined above are summaries and, as such, omit many of the complexities of this new form of living. Even so, we recognize that our current economic situation is a form of privilege that allows us to live without fear of possible increased expenses or decreased income over the next several months.

With each passing day, we become better at living in this new reality, better at caring for our friends and families from a distance, and better at caring for our neighbors. Our care for our neighbors is primarily achieved through our financial support of ministries (including the Mansfield Mission Center) and other non-profit agencies with both the competency and capacity to provide the most helpful programs and services as the pandemic evolves.

I’d welcome hearing from you.

  • How has life changed for you as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic?
  • How is your faith informing your behavior?
  • Share one way you’d welcome help and/or one way you’d be open to helping others.
View from home office. Photo by Greg Smith.

As of the time this post is published current cases of COVID-19 follow:

  • Tarrant County (where I live and work): 139
  • Dallas County (just East of Tarrant): 488 (the highest of any county in Texas)
  • Texas: 2,552
  • United States: 122,653 (with 2,112 deaths)