NOTES, 27 MARCH 2020,
with updates

Greetings, dear reader, as we descend ever more into the darkening night. The plague is sweeping over us. Over a half million people in the world are known to have been infected by the coronavirus. Thousands have died. Yet, we are no where near the turning point. The United States has become the "hottest spot" on the globe with at least 85,749 known cases and 1,304 deaths. SC yesterday reported 456 cases and 9 deaths. AL is listing 501 cases and one death. In the south, the plague is exploding in Florida and Louisiana.

There is no new word on the condition of Bishop Steve Wood, of St. Andrew's of Mt. Pleasant. The last public announcement from church officials came two days ago. Presumably, he is still in ICU on a ventilator.

South Carolina has not seen the worst of this. It is really only beginning. Although painful, it is wise of the authorities to order people to stay at home and to cancel Spoleto.

Churches should pay no attention to President Trump's dangerously foolish idea of seeing churches packed at Easter, which is just a couple of weeks off. The example of St. Andrew's of Mt. Pleasant should quash that notion. In Alabama, medical personnel are blaming the churches for creating one of the "hot spots" of the state, Lee County. See the report of this here . Common sense says all churches should remained closed to in-person gatherings until this plague has abated.

It is gratifying and comforting to see people all around the country stepping up to lead us in this moment of crisis. The president of the United States is simply incapable of wise leadership in this hour. In reality he is making things worse by his daily public relations performances of fantasy. I was disappointed to see Dr. Birx apparently fall victim to his bullying yesterday when she declared that NYC hospitals had all they needed when every single report from the hospitals themselves said the exact opposite. Now it looks as if only Dr. Fauci stands between us and the cliff. I pray for him every day.

In fact, all over America, the health care professionals are arising to the occasion: from the highest doctors, to the EMTs,  to the hospital maids and janitors. How fortunate we are to have these heroes. They are our first line of defense now and we should support them in every way we can.

A Prayer for Doctors and Nurses

Sanctify, O Lord, those whom you have called to the study and practice of the arts of healing, and to the prevention of disease and pain. Strengthen them by your life-giving Spirit, that by their ministries the health of the community may be promoted and your creation glorified, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

As the night of the plague darkens, many people may experience a crisis of faith. This is a natural and common reaction to such a situation. Where is God? If God is all good, why if He allowing this to happen? Why does not He stop the plague? Why does not He answer our prayers for help? All of these are thoughts we are likely to have. 

I am reminded of Elie Wiesel's report of an incident he attended in World War II. One night at Auschwitz, a group of Jewish prisoners put God on trial, in absentia. The charge was that He had abandoned His people, that is, He had unilaterally broken the Covenant with Israel. A full trial was conducted with arguments on both sides. In the end, they convicted God of the charge. Then, right afterwards a rabbi called for evening prayers and they all prayed to the God they had just determined had abandoned them. This is faith in the darkest possible hour. And this is what we have to keep in mind as our hour darkens. God is with us even if we feel abandoned and lost.

Finally, I see small acts of grace all around every day. For instance, my sister, who lives in Bay St. Louis, was driving down the road two days ago and encountered what she assumed to be a funeral. A police car with light flashing was leading a long line of cars. She realized it was not a funeral when the parade turned into a large apartment complex. It was the teachers of the local elementary school. They had decorated their cars with names and messages (we miss you, we love you, etc.), balloons and the like. They drove slowly around blowing their horns and shouting encouragement to the children who came to their apartment windows, balconies and yards blowing kisses back. It made the day for those kids. They realized they had not been abandoned.

Let us remember we were made for the living of this hour. Peace.

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UPDATE, 9:45 a.m.

Bishop Lawrence, of the Anglican diocese of South Carolina, has suspended all in-person church gatherings in the diocese at least until April 6.

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UPDATE, 5:00 p.m.

St. Andrew's Church of Mt. Pleasant released this statement at 4:00 p.m. today:

"Steve did a breathing trial this morning that went well, though he is not quite ready to come off the ventilator. They are encouraged by his progress and think he will be off the ventilator soon.

Continue to pray for Steve, his family, and those that care for him."

Bp. Steve Wood has been in the ICU on a ventilator for seven days. The last two reports of his condition are positive. This is good news indeed.