Dear Family and Friends,

I have a confession. I’m starting to see signs of apathy in myself, the most glaring of which is caring less and less about the COVID-related deaths reported daily.

This relentless virus is causing a staggering number of deaths in our community.

To put it into perspective, do you recall all the people we saw at church two years ago? The number of deaths from this disease is not far behind. 

But as shocking as that sounds, and as painful as each death was in the beginning, all I see now is a number. And all I look for is whether it went up or down from the day before.

I suspect I’m not alone. Although details of each person is eventually posted on the State’s website, none are reported by the media.

In addition, our government leaders are now setting safety policies based on available hospital beds rather than say, deaths. It seems no one cares.

My question for us today is: am I alone in feeling this way or do you feel the same?

The dictionary defines apathy as 1) a lack of feeling or emotion – impassive or 2) a lack of interest or concern – indifferent.

The apathy that many of us feel comes from self-protection as we try to shut out the prolonged pain and trauma.

Since apathy seems to be a common human reaction, does this mean it’s okay to go on feeling this way, especially those of us who follow Christ?

No!

Why? Left untreated, apathy will spread to other aspects of our lives. It can affect our overall well-being, our motivation and dedication. It can leave us feeling detached, and stop caring about everyday tasks, personal interests, and even our relationships.

But most of all, it can evolve into spiritual apathy, negatively affecting our spiritual health and relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

If you’ve ever put off “until tomorrow” things like reading your Bible or watching an online weekend message or checking in with a brother or sister, you might understand what I mean.

So what are we to do?

I have a friend who once lived in conditions similar to ours today. For years people with all kinds of serious health conditions went to see Him. He was so popular many traveled great distances hoping He could help them.

But despite the vast number, sometimes thousands, of people that sought after Him, not once did He complain or become impassive or indifferent. In fact, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9:36 ESV

My friend and yours is Jesus. And He showed us that it is possible to be empathetic and compassionate – even in the conditions we live in today.

The Greek word for sheep used above is ‘probata’ which means a sheep or a little sheep. Please note that Matthew did not write ‘flock’ without a shepherd, nor did he mean sheep in the plural tense. 

Even in the midst of a crowd, Jesus’ compassion for each person He saw or met never wavered.

This, my friends, is the Jesus that we love who loved us first. The One whose overflowing love for each person moves Him to compassion and empathy. The One we all aspire to be like.

Again you ask: so what are we to do? How do we regain (or maybe gain) empathy in the face of apathy?

First, what is empathy? A well known author, Brené Brown says, “Empathy is connecting with the emotion that someone is experiencing, not the event or the circumstance.”

Empathy means to look not at a faceless crowd but at individual faces in the crowd.

Second, recognize that this pandemic has turned us inward. It’s hard to think about others, not to mention love them, when in self-preservation mode.

But let’s fear not, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” ‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1:7‬ ESV

Third, speaking of love, empathy is about loving others…including strangers.

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:34-40‬ ESV

Jesus’ commands that we love one another, even those stricken by COVID we don’t know.

Fourth, Paul knew there will be times when we need each other. This may be that time for us, a time to lean on one another and, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians‬ ‭6:2‬ ESV

Then after bearing each other’s burden, “encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:11‬ ESV

Extraordinary times require extraordinary effort. We may not be capable of overcoming these feelings of apathy by ourselves.

In closing, let’s pray for God’s mercy on those lost and that He gives comfort to their families. Let’s pray that God completely heal those sickened by this virus. And let’s try to be more like our compassionate and empathetic Jesus and see each person the way Jesus sees him or her.

In love always,