Lent

I received a message yesterday that was one of those things people pass around like a chain letter. The message was that we are afflicted with this COVID-19 pandemic now because we have told God to get out of our business. And so our loving God, who is a “gentleman,” in the words of this message, politely withdrew. We must understand, the message said, that we have brought this on ourselves by pushing God out of our schools and our government. We have brought this on ourselves, the message said, because Dr. Spock told us not to spank our children anymore. Pass this on if you dare, the message taunted. If you’re not too embarrassed to share a message of God with your friends, then pass it on. If you think this message has any merit, then pass it on.  I don’t think the message has any merit. In fact, I think the message is destructive. It is not original, however. I have heard these bitter cries many times before, that everything we don’t like, or everything that makes us afra...