Since COVID ramped up in March 2020, our culture has debated that which is essential.
- What are the essential businesses?
- Who are the essential workers?
- What are the essential activities?
While we all might like to think who we are and what we do qualify as essential, other people made those designations for us. Certain things were deemed essential and others were not.
In reality, no one determines what is essential other than yourself.
Regardless of how fearful you have been of this virus, you have maintained some level of activity since this pandemic began.
- Some have gone inside and barely emerged.
- Some have been wide open and changed little.
- Some have made precautions but still kept some activities.
- Some only went to grocery stores.
- Some felt safe with restaurant take-out.
- Some deemed school worth the risk.
- Some moved their business to virtual communication.
- Some protested.
- Some shopped.
- Some exercised.
- Some worshiped.
What I’m trying to get at is that you have determined what is essential and what is not by what you have participated in over the last few months.
The remarkable thing about this social experiment is the lack of consistency that we can show.
- I have seen people too fearful to vote in person that they march to make a point.
- I have seen people too timid to attend family gatherings but frequent their favorite restaurants.
- I have seen people too cautious about church attendance but encourage their children’s sports participation.
What does it mean? How do we make sense of it all?
You deem what is essential by your actions.
In fact, we always have. We always will.
We find a way, take a risk, take the precautions, make the preparations, and engage in those things that we value the most. And no one can convince us otherwise.
Most of us have not disagreed with federal, state, local, or medical mandates until it affected something we really loved.
I’m not saying that you shouldn’t take precautions. I have taken more over the last few months than I have in my entire life. We should take it seriously. You should make calls about what you think is safe and what is not. But are you consistent? Am I?
Most people think this virus is either very dangerous or very politicized. I think it is both.
And since I think it is both, it causes me to evaluate all of my activity. It has revealed some inconsistencies in my thinking. And above all else, it has shown me what I treasured most of all.
What has it shown you?
What have you shown others about what you value the most?
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
