What virus are you spreading?
As the COVID-19 coronavirus makes its relentless way across the world, it is not the only thing that is going viral. Fear, panic-buying, stock-market slumps, and fake news stories are also infectiously spreading like viruses, making the situation so much worse. In this context, I want to ask two key questions:
- What can we learn about ourselves, our societies, and our planet from this crisis?
- Are there positives that we can aim to spread virally, overcoming the harmful infections?
Twelve trees at sundown, by Andreas Klodt (CC BY-NC-SA)
In terms of what we can learn:
- We’re all in this together: COVID-19 powerfully illustrates how interconnected our global village is. Both the actual virus and the virtual viruses of fear and economic panic have spread so fast because we (especially the affluent minority) are both physically hyper-mobile and permanently connected online. The biodiversity and climate crises are also global, interlinked and will affect us all, perhaps more slowly and unevenly that COVID-19, but eventually with far more devastating consequences. We can only tackle them effectively by joined-up global policies and strategies.
- People are capable of bad and good extremes! The head of the WHO has observed that ‘Outbreaks can bring out the best and the worst in people’, from caring for neighbours to selfishly hoarding food and toilet rolls. When faced with a global crisis we can’t simply appeal to people’s better nature; we need decisive and united leadership to normalize behavioural change.
- The wellbeing of people and planet come before economic growth: the relentless growth of global industry, trade and consumerism have almost stopped. This has brought instability, pain and anxiety to many, as the global market has ground to a halt. Yet the market not only failed to anticipate or deal with this crisis, it led to it spreading rapidly and globally. However, with factories closed and planes grounded, polluted skies are clearing, CO₂ and particulate levels dropping, birdsong is heard again in Wuhan, and wildlife is returning to the tourist-free canals of Venice. We are being given an opportunity to re-envision the relationship between people, planet and economy. We need a healthy economy that puts people’s health and the thriving of nature first.
- We rely on healthy ecosystems: the science is still uncertain but it appears COVID-19 may have jumped species as a result of the illegal wildlife trade. The virus resembles those found in pangolins, the most illegally-traded species, and bats. We mess with nature at our peril, and pathogens are crossing species more regularly. A Guardian article observed, ‘a number of researchers today think that it is actually humanity’s destruction of biodiversity that creates the conditions for new viruses and diseases such as COVID-19 … to arise – with profound health and economic impacts in rich and poor countries alike.’
- Money can be found, and people can change their habits, when faced with a crisis: As a friend wrote: ‘The global response to the pandemic has already demonstrated that when suitably motivated, we can change behaviour dramatically, and quickly. Yes, there will be huge economic impact – but we can survive with less travel, more home working, less consumerism and consumption. And because we’ve actually done it rather than modelled it, there is actual data available to demonstrate the impact.’ Once we’re through this terrible pandemic, can we preserve the best of tele-conferencing, virtual meetings, more time for relationships with neighbours, the elderly and with nature?
So, if there’s much we can learn from the suffering and limits imposed by COVID-19, how can we virally encourage the positives? At the risk of being simplistic, the bible speaks of the three virtues of faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13), or as The Message puts it, ‘Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly.’ I sense that these three virtue-viruses will be needed not only as we face COVID-19 and its consequences, but also as we face further disruptions and necessary changes to address climate change and biodiversity loss.
Our faith is in God, who is ‘our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble’ (Psalm 46:1). That doesn’t mean we won’t catch the virus or suffer economically, but it means God comes alongside us and all who are wounded and broken, human and nonhuman, in compassion and renewal. It doesn’t mean we won’t feel frightened, but it gives us a wider perspective that nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39).
Hope enables us to face uncertainty, because it is rooted in who God is, not what’s happening around us. I was deeply moved last week speaking to a relative in her 90s who said ‘What’s the worst that could happen?’ She went on to say that she wasn’t afraid of death because of her hope of eternal life with Christ. That hope extends to God’s good purposes for the whole created order, which, despite the calamitous and blasphemous ways we mistreat it, is longing to be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom of God’s children (Romans 8:21).
Finally, love, which St Paul reminds us is the greatest of the three. There are wonderful stories of viral love for neighbour emerging amidst the tragedy of coronavirus. Bono was even inspired to write a new song ‘Let your love be known’ as he heard of Italians singing across rooftops from their locked-down homes. As many of us are forced to slow down and live indoors, we can also look out and, as a self-isolating friend wrote, ‘Perhaps in the regenerative wonder of nature (trashed by human misuse though it is), we can experience something of a spiritual regeneration in ourselves and our relationship with God.’
So, what virus are you spreading? Whilst the world goes crazy, many face lockdown, and many are suffering, let’s resolve to deepen our exposure to faith, hope and love, and to share them as virally as we can.
Small image: Computer illustration of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (No copyright; Public Domain)
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About Dave Bookless
Dave is Director of Theology for A Rocha International, where he works to embed creation care into international Christian organizations, theological institutions, and mission movements. His past roles with A Rocha include being an International Trustee and the co-founder of A Rocha UK (with his wife Anne). He has a PhD from Cambridge University on biblical theology and biodiversity conservation, and has contributed to many books and articles, including Planetwise, available in six languages. Born and raised in India, Dave has a love for Indian food, Indian culture and Indian Christianity. Dave is also a qualified bird-ringer and loves birding, islands, running and mountains.
View all posts by Dave Bookless (76)
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Thanks Dave; we need an appropriate Christian response to this crisis and the ones to come.
‘Spiritual regeneration’ and realism is and will be the best vaccin available: Faith, Hope & Love.
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As ever Dave Bookless, leaves us, challenged, yet informed and better equipped.
Insightful vision for the future and a truly Christian response. It can only happen with international leaders who take up this vision and the practical steps needed: We need God to raise up Statesmen and Scientists whe will find ways to work together to bring about this kind of drastic change from the past. Thank you for this.