And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV)
We received word yesterday from the pharmaceutical company Moderna, that an early stage human trial of their coronavirus vaccine produced COVID-19 antibodies in all 45 of its participants. While these are interim results of an early stage trial conducted on a very small scale, this news was seen as a very positive development in the fight against the coronavirus. Global stock markets increased measurably on the news as people began to see the possibility of the end of this pandemic and our time of sheltering in place. Finally, we have received some good news in what has seemed like an endless stream of bad news. While the development of a vaccine would obviously be a huge blessing to everyone, it’s important to note that there have been a number of other blessings we’ve experienced during this time that might not be so obvious. We never want to lose sight of the human tragedy in terms of the loss of life and financial devastation and we would certainly never want to go through this again if we had the choice, but we know that God is always at work in the midst of our struggles. He never wastes a teardrop and Romans 8:28 tells us that “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him”.
So with all reverence for the suffering that has occurred, here are just a few of the blessings we’ve received that may have gone unnoticed:
- There is anecdotal evidence that the earth is beginning to heal itself. That water in the canals in Venice, Italy is now crystal clear and dolphins and jellyfish can now be seen swimming in the canals. Additionally, NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) report significant decreases in Nitrogen Dioxide over China and Italy due to the lock downs that were imposed.
- Animal shelters across the country are reporting that they no longer have any animals available for adoption as people are using this time of sheltering in place to bring a pet into their homes. Additionally, the Humane Society reports that the rate of animal fostering has increased 90 percent in some cities.
- San Diego County, CA reported an 84% decrease in influenza cases and related deaths. It is unknown whether this decrease is due to social distancing or if these cases are now being attributed to COVID instead. If it’s the former case, the result is lower influenza deaths. If it’s the latter case, the result is fewer COVID deaths than have been reported. Either case is good news.
- A study from the University of California, Davis (UCD) published in April revealed that traffic accidents and related deaths have been cut in half due to social distancing.
- People are starting to acknowledge each other more in person, either due to the scarcity of actual people or a newfound appreciation of our common humanity. People are reconnecting with neighbors and smiling at each other when passing on the street or in the park.
- Families are enjoying time together at the dinner table and playing games, watching movies, going for walks, and talking as a family.
- According to a recent Barna survey, 54% of pastors surveyed indicated that their online worship attendance has actually been higher than their usual in-person attendance.
- According to a recent Gallup Poll, 19% of respondents indicated their faith or spirituality has increased as a result of the coronavirus.
- Tele-medicine and tele-health services have been fast tracked which will expand access to health care for under served patients in remote locations and reduce or contain the cost of health care even after the pandemic has subsided.
It remains to be seen how long (if at all) some of these blessings will remain in place once the pandemic is over. But it is good to know that we worship a God who is with us even in the midst of our struggles and can provide blessings even in the midst of adversity.
Peace and Blessings,
John Petrillo
Faith Lutheran Church Council