What is the difference between a sprint and a marathon?  A sprint is a short race; one in which the runners can easily see the end-line.  A marathon is a long race; in a marathon, until the very end, the participants cannot see the end line.  They are two very different races and involve different strategies.  A sprint requires a burst of energy for a very short period of time.  A marathon requires a management of energy and can go on for several hours.  So with the COVID-19 virus crisis, it is helpful for us to realize that we are "running a marathon," not a sprint; and we will need a sound strategy if we are going to cross the finish line...

Faith, hope and love are described by the apostle Paul as the three qualities that last forever.  In my experience,  we hear a lot about faith and love, but some how the quality of hope doesn't seem to get as much attention.  Still, Peter tells us that hope is an essential aspect of our new life in Christ.  He says it in these words, "You have been born again to a living hope..." (1 Peter 1:3).  Psychologists and Social Scientists tell us that as long as people have hope they will continue to:  fight, move forward, and hold on.  It is when people loose hope that they tend to give up and give in to the destructive situations and challenges they face.  I think that in the face of the covid-19 virus crisis, this is a time, especially, when people need to hold on to hope.  I would like to share two examples of what I mean...