Love in the time of COVID-19
It would be nice if I could just put the comic that sparked this idea right here in this post, but I respect copyright too much to do so. So go take a look at Jimmy Johnson’s comic from April 22, and then come back here.
Back? Good.
It just hit me how perfectly this exemplifies the love these two characters have for each other. If you’re not familiar with the strip, readers have followed the relationship of Arlo and Janis for nearly 35 years. They have different ways of dealing with the world, and they get on each other’s nerves sometimes. Their marriage has survived many of the same challenges real marriages face. Through it all, after all this time, it is very clear they love each other deeply, and it has deepened with the years.
Paul reminds us in 1 Cor. 13:5 that, among other things, “[love] doesn’t seek its own advantage.” It stands in sharp contrast to those who, in the current crisis, think only of their own welfare, ignoring the impact their actions might have on others.
Love adapts to situations. In this case, each tries to protect the other by doing a mundane thing that has become potentially life threatening. It also recognizes a reality that has played out multiple times. In this case, love means doing something separately rather than together. It is why, despite our deep desire to be together, the churches I serve have chosen to forgo gathering together physically and have braved new and unfamiliar technology to try to gather some other way. It is why our son tries to keep us at home and run all the out-of-house errands necessary to keep the household functioning.
Jimmy makes me laugh all the time, especially when I recognize myself and my family in his comic strip. Frequently, he also makes me sappy as he reminds me just how good I have it.
Thank you, Jimmy.
And now, dear reader, I hope you have someone like this, and may you all be safe and healthy.
Peace.