What I READ was, “Dolly Parton says God is using the virus to teach us a lesson.” And while it was not her ACTUAL message, I’m willing to bet that I’m not the only one who THOUGHT it was. This is what created such a visceral reaction within me and prompted this post.
It was putting the words “God” and “lesson” in the same sentence. For some people, the word “lesson” speaks of punishment and shame. When God is added in, it reflects an idea of God that too many people have subconsciously internalized – especially if they were raised in a traditional Christian religion.
It’s an image of a scary God to fear, please or appease. Of God as a celestial puppeteer creating virus pandemics so we can learn a lesson. It feeds the belief that God is “out there” – some ethereal Being looking down on us here on earth.
This INACCURATE perception of God originates from the biblical story of Adam & Eve eating “the forbidden fruit”. Because of this, God banishes them from the garden, saying “because you have done this, CURSED are you among the animals, etc.”
But the God ACTUALLY described in this story is not a judging or punishing one at all!
For example, we read that after eating the forbidden fruit, Adam & Eve hid in a bush. Why? Because they realized they were naked and felt ashamed. It’s NOT God who is judging here – it’s Adam & Eve judging themselves!
So how does God respond?
This God comes LOOKING FOR THEM. God walked through the garden calling, “Where are you?” Adam & Eve tried to hide but God would not have it! Their Creator wanted to BE WITH THEM!
But, you might be asking, what about God cursing them?
I get it. For much of my childhood and adult life, that’s what I thought happened too. But read it again and you’ll discover another way to see it.
The story actually paints a picture of a God who loves them. First, by allowing them to be accountable for the consequences of their actions. He didn’t curse them - he simply said that "now they were cursed”. By eating the fruit, they set in motion less-than-desirable consequences – ones they may not have experienced with a different choice.
And isn’t that what any LOVING parent does with his or her children to help them learn, grow and mature?
As if to underscore that this is about God LOVING them, we then read that God MADE CLOTHES for them. Does that sound like a God who punishes or uses “viruses” to teach us a lesson?
I don’t think so.
Rather than a punishment or "lesson to learn", I believe what is happening right now is an OPPORTUNITY. It's an opportunity for us to learn, grow and make better choices going forward – individually and collectively.
EVERY moment of our lives gives us this same opportunity. The question is – have we been taking advantage of them? Have we been growing and maturing in our relationship with ourselves, each other, this planet AND our Creator?
Because it wasn’t GOD who created the pandemic, my friend…
WE did. Collectively and individually, WE created it!
As tempting as it is, we cannot blame what is happening on China, incompetent leadership, and/or people who are not “social distancing”. This pandemic and economic collapse did not begin last November in Wuhan province.
What we are going through – the upheaval to life as we have known it – is the consequence of choices we have made prior to today. Individual choices AND collective choices.
And, like Adam & Eve, the consequences are LESS than desirable!
Which is why our understanding of God matters SO much. It's also why it’s important to realize that when God told Adam & Eve to leave the garden, He/She never said "they were on their own".
It’s only when we KNOW that the God who created us still loves us, accepts us, supports us and is WITH US - despite out choices - that we can “come out of hiding”. Only then can we begin to see AND own the choices we have made, individually and collectively, that have created our situation today.
Only then, can we access the courage, faith and wisdom to make different – BETTER – choices for ourselves and our world going forward. Choices that are rooted in Love – love of ourselves, each other, and the Earth that we all call home.
As Dolly said and I wholeheartedly agree with, choices that have us “see ourselves and each other through the eyes of Love.”
In the midst of this pandemic, my friend, God is WITH you and CALLING to you – inviting you to learn and grow in LOVE.
Are you listening?`
xoxo
T.
#BeSafeBeSmartBeWell