Corona the mirror, is reflecting some pretty ugly truths back at us during these "lockdown, social distancing, mask-wearing, don't touch me, wash your hands 20 times, and don't forget your fingernails days!" The balanced reflection of who we have become, versus the old image of who we thought we were now seems askew. In the spotlight of COVID-19, these simple truths require a little tweaking as to how we should proceed in the work of our commission, and in the fortification of our homes, marriages, interpersonal relationships, and our sanity! Surely it is not the plan of God for our lives to rape us of the harvest, nor to strain or undermine our covenant relationships in which He has ordained and blessed us in. However, the intricacies in which we carefully maneuver through our new world of "post-Corona" relationships will be very telling for us. Especially when it comes to our marriages and other cohesive relationships with our significant others. In areas where we once delighted in the "bedroom being undefiled" husbands and wives are now faced with a great big elephant in the room and a third party in their bed.

When the CDC revealed that the COVID-19 virus had been found within the sperm of many deceased patients, that information landed like a hard right to the chin of couples around the world. Many had already been forced to distance themselves because of travel, or work but now they lay awake plagued by the reality that their companion across the hallway (quarantining from a business trip) could now be an Incubating "carrier." Memories of how her husband's reassuring strokes were once affirming to her have been replaced by a draw back spirit of uncertainty; while his need to draw his most beloved into physical worship has been eclipsed by feelings of dread and thoughts of being responsible. Their joy for each other has given way to the elephant in the room. Our basic physicalities have come under scrutiny as well as our relationships, our faith and our bedroom worship sessions.

I talked to a friend the other day who stated to me in a flat, monotoned way that she and her husband had not been close or even touched each other in almost two months; since the shut downs across the country began. Because Katie's husband's employment is considered "essential" and he has the nerve to have to come in contact with possible carriers of the virus, Katie felt the need to lay down some strict home rules. (for the sake of the family) She confessed that these rules and rituals are taking their tole on them both, and she methodically laid out for me their "post Coronavirus apocalyptic marital life together" as I listened in awe. "First he strips down to his skivvies in the garage, wraps himself in the clean towel provided for him, places his outer wear into a plastic bag (which has been disinfected, then he steps into the laundry area and empties the bag in the dryer." (Now, this process might seem counter productive, she explains, but the sanitizer inside the bag knocks the germs out before entrance into the laundry room) Bryan now has cleared entry-level 1 of integration into his home! As the transom of my mind are inundated with compassion for this poor man held in "Corona Captivity" I couldn't help but feel his pain. To be relegated to the position of a contamination risk, and to lose your wife to the arms of the guest bedroom seemed a cruel, and present danger to the union and fellowship of marriage.

There are a plethora of studies that show the importance of human to human touch and our need to be soothed, and caressed. My mind also takes me back to the time when I was doing grief counseling and one of the newly widowed women in the group opened up regarding an incident where she had to seek out a chiropractor for an injury. She relayed to the group her overwhelming response as she laid face-down on the chiropractor's table, with her face in the donut. As the Dr. softly placed his hands upon her back she recalled that she softly broke down in tears and it took her a few moments to understand why. It was the benign affects of his hands exposing to her that it had been five years since any human had touched her! The warmth of a pair of hands upon her flesh brought to the forefront the absence which was now present in her life.

In Genesis 2:18 : God reveals our inter- connectedness in scripture when He proclaims that “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make a helper suitable for him.” And so, we as Corona Survivors are going to have to find our way back to each other. We are going to have to take baby steps in finding our gait, but in time I know the Holy Spirit will guide us in doing so. Marriage is an absolutely wonderful, all encompassing amalgamation . It is a thing of unequivocal beauty but like most breathtaking, awe-inspiring things, it is fragile. It must be handled with care, and given its place of respect. This "Corona place" in which our relationships both marital and otherwise has landed is a mere test. It's a test of our relationship's endurance, it's stability, it's roots, and it's resiliency. If we are kicking our partners out of the bed and into the basement out of fear from the information highways, of the CDC, or your local news anchor- let's pause at that thought and seek the Holy Spirit for guidance. Because the wiles of the devil are to destroy and obliterate your marriage because it is God's metaphor for His Church, and she is a glorious thing!

Climbing back onto a horse that has startled us or kicked us to the ground is a hard thing. However, it is a much-needed response lest we allow fear to reign. It is in doing so that we will stave-off the hidden pit falls designed by the enemy. We are going to have to ride out this wave (and the anticipated wave to come) with safe, honest communication and trust in the Word of God over our lives. With compassion and patience we are going to have to remember our first loves and the scripture which morphs us into one body in order that we might nurture ourselves back to real life and abundant living. ~Selah