A Better Grip

What's your process like for reentering the house after going to work or to the store? Do you have one? My paramedic compulsiveness drives me to have a rigid ritual:

• Take off mask, dispose of it, and immediately sanitize my hands. 
• Spray down keys, phone, and credit card
• No hugging the kids or holding the baby
• Spray the bottom of my shoe (if people cough/sneeze, those droplets land on the ground and you step in it)
• Change out clothes and put it in the hamper
• Wash my hands with soap and water
• Wash my feet and arms with soap and water

Why?? 

1. I do not want to pass it to my children (although statistically their outcome will be better than mine). I do not want to pass it to my wife. I do not want to pass it to my aging parents who have multiple factors making them high-risk. I go through my weird ritual for them out of love. 
   
   
2. I do it because I need control. I. Need. Control. With so many unpredictable factors, this is one that I can control. However, unlike many, I am willing to admit that security is an illusion. I am willing to admit that all of this makes me feel better. There are those out there who have done everything by the book and still got sick. Do all the precautions work? Some do, some questionable. This is my pacifier to calm me when the world is scary. I cling on dearly to my life and my health because I treasure it. 

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

Philippians 3, Paul writes about what he treasures. He counts everything as loss compared to knowing Christ... even his own health. His view of suffering is different than mine. 

I run from suffering, fight it, avoid it... and Paul welcomes it.  

I want good health. Paul wants to know Jesus. 

I don't want to die. Paul wants to know the power of the resurrection. 

I want to go through this pandemic untouched. Paul wants to share in the sufferings of Jesus. 

I want to live. Paul wants to become like Jesus in death. 

I am doing everything possible to escape COVID19. Paul is doing anything possible to attain the resurrection. 

We view Covid19 as the death penalty (it isn't). We elevate this virus and give it great influence and power. How? We revolve our lives around it... but we even revolve our prayers around it. "Oh God, please spare my [children] from this!" (Maybe you're praying for your parents, or yourself.)

Paul's prayer would be different. "Oh God, may my [children] know Jesus and the power of His resurrection. May they share in His sufferings to become like Him in death. Do whatever it takes... by any means possible... that they may attain the resurrection from the dead." 

Paul sees this. So did King David in the wilderness of Judah (Psalm 63:3)

Because your steadfast love is better than life,

my lips will praise you.

 Maybe it's time to let go of our mortal lives and cling on to Christ. I'm not saying to let your guard down. I'm saying to imitate Paul and David. 

I love the lyrics to "Forever" by David Crowder. 

Or maybe like a match being lit

Or the sinking of a ship, letting go gives a better grip

I'm finding everything I'll ever need

By giving up, gaining everything

My deepest prayer for you is not that you wouldn't catch this virus, but that God would give you the faith to get a better grip by letting go.