Stuck at Home due to Virus Regulations
Here are some practical ideas of things you can do if you are stuck at home due to government regulations regarding the current virus pandemic (SARS-CoV-2, “Wuhan Virus”). (There are many Corona viruses, and they cause the common cold. This particular strain is dangerous to those with compromised medical conditions).
1) What Not to Do!
A) Do not binge watch zombie movies, pandemic movies – or TV or Radio news. Doing these things will result in anxiety, fear and paranoia as apocalyptic fantasy confuses reality.
B) Do not become a couch potato and waste away the precious hours the Lord has given to you to be productive.
C) Do not become fixated on food resulting in gaining weight and consuming all the stocks in your pantry, refrigerator and freezer. (Do you really want to go back to those crowded stores except when absolutely necessary?)
D) Do not hoard. Keep a stock of food and supplies for yourself and to give away. Hoarding is an act of selfishness that prevents those in need from getting food and supplies.
E) Do not go out in any public place if you are sick (with any contagious disease). You do not want others to get what you have, and you do not want to pick up something additional that could compound your illness.
F) Do not fixate on information about corona virus or government reaction to it. That will also increase anxiety. While it is part of current life, there is much more to life than that.
2) What to Do!
A) If you are able to do your regular job from home, be diligent to set aside space and time so that you can do your assigned work. It takes a lot self-discipline to work from home and not be distracted by all that goes on there. Students – continue your study.
B) If you are not working, consider what you can do to earn an income while laid off, especially if you are in a low paying job or one that pays only if you work. There is currently a great need in certain types of markets, delivery and transportation. A low income is better than no income.
C) If you have a source of income and an assurance you will be able to go back to work when sanity returns to our society, consider what you might be able to do to make the most of the time that is now available to you. Some ideas are listed below.
D) Look for opportunities to minister to those in need including neighbors. Contact family, friends, loved ones and neighbors to see how they are doing and if they have any needs. If you are healthy and not in a high risk group, offer to do shopping and run errands for those that are in high risk groups. Perhaps you can make a meal for those who are restricted to their homes. If you are handy, you may be able to do some repairs or maintenance work for them – but follow medical protocols for hygiene and distance for your own protection & theirs.
3) Ideas for Making the Most of Your Time while waiting to return to work / school
A) Build the relationships in your family by doing things that are interactive. Read a book out loud to the family / children and discuss it. Pick a topic to discuss. Play a game together. Watch a movie / educational material and discuss it. Go on a hike / walk / ride bikes in a place that is not crowded (check local regulations).
B) Start or add time to your private devotions. Peace comes from trusting God, and that develops by knowing Him and being right with Him.
C) You have not been having family devotions, this is a great time to create this good habit.
D) If you have not read through the Bible, this is a good time to start or complete the books you have been putting off.
E) Do Bible studies on books or topics that are of interest to you which you normally do not have time to get to.
F) Do your household Spring cleaning, maintenance or repair projects
G) Write to or talk to those relatives or friends you normally do not get a chance to catch up with – they may be laid off too.
H) See 2 D above
I) Volunteer to do work at church or other charitable institution. There are many maintenance projects at Grace Bible Church as well as some technical things that can be done. Contact the pastor or a deacon to get a list of ideas.
J) If you normally do your own taxes, do them now instead of waiting for the deadline. K) Do a chef’s challenge – out of just what you already have in your house, see what kind of delicious meal you can put together. Try to involve other members of the family – a good time to teach someone that does not cook how to do so.
L) Be innovative. God only allots you a limited amount of time on this earth. We are to “number our days, that we may present to [God] a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12) and to make the most of our time (Ephesians 5:16)
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Simply a slave of the Lord Jesus Christ,
Pastor Scott L. Harris
Romans 8:29b
Grace Bible Church, Wappingers Falls, NY
(Check out our web site – www.GraceBibleNY.org)