Dating : Where does the informational buck stop regarding coronavirus?

Are Our Coronavirus Beliefs Jeopardizing Our Relationships?

Where does the informational buck stop regarding coronavirus? Is it the CDC? Fauci? The President? Q-drops? Some epidemiologist who is a friend of your aunt? Some YouTuber with special insight? Data from other countries? Upon whom do we base our beliefs regarding the proper response, dare I even say solution, to this pandemic. Who do we consult? Why does this matter? On a macro level what we believe about the virus has impact upon the world in ways we cannot yet imagine. It matters on a micro level because it affects every decision we make for today as well as for tomorrow. And whether we like it or not, what or who we believe about coronavirus affects every relationship we have.

I’m pro-life. I am friends with people who are pro-choice. I believe in God. I am friends with Atheists. I do not believe homosexuality is wrong. I’m friends with people who do. These examples of diversity of thought in my own family and friend circles do not make my life extraordinary. It makes my life completely normal. Before coronavirus, it was possible to have peaceful and respectful disagreement with people about issues that even before had the import of life or death. With coronovirus it is different. Our beliefs about it are defining us in ways that are offensive to others and make it almost impossible to find accord. People are being labeled in terms that are absolute and sometimes without reason. Relationships are ending. What we believe about coronavirus and how we choose to act on those beliefs affect our private and public relationships in new and challenging ways. The saddest and most disheartening aspect of it all is that we are establishing beliefs based on a collection of thought that according to memory, is as varied and ever-changing as what was in the bottom of my grandmother’s handbag.

Different beliefs over coronavirus come with the baggage of judgement. We are ascribing life values to people according to what they believe about this pandemic. In some of our relationships where months of disagreement over coronavirus living has caused relational strife, we have somehow forgotten the decades of love and acceptance that have come before. We need to remember this in order to get through these times together. When we love we seek to understand and when we understand we inevitably accept. All of our relationships in life matter. The intimate ones are worth digging deep for as well as those that exist only on commonalities such as shared interests, kids, school, faith and worship, and work. When we are in relationship with those who think differently from ourselves, our hearts have the joy of stretching, our minds have the pleasure of complex thinking, and our lives have the opportunity for growth. We must not allow coronavirus to steal more from us.