From The Bishop

For almost a year now, on a daily basis, we have been bombarded with facts and figures about the coronavirus. For the most part, this news has been disturbing and has not inspired much hope or joy. Unfortunately, we have been so focused on this pandemic, that we may be unaware that there is an ‘epidemic’ that is also in our midst. Anxiety, depression and suicide are all on the rise and this is of great concern to many health professionals. This is directly related to how we cope with the negative effects of COVID-19. There is a growing sense of isolation among us and this is not good. A recent report from the Hospital for Sick Children speaks about the negative impact that the pandemic is having on the physical and mental health of children. Missing school due to the lockdown is having a significant impact on our youth. In May of 2020, the Canadian Mental Health Association published the results of a poll that had been taken in Ontario. It revealed that approximately 70 percent of those surveyed felt that a serious mental-health crisis was looming. I would presume that this number has not decreased over the past eight months, especially with the growing number of COVID-19 cases. It is interesting to note, that over the last number of years, there has been a more holistic understanding of the human person in the area of psychology. There has been a growing appreciation of the role of spirituality. A recent article in Psychology Today, entitled “Spirituality and Mental Health â€" Do religious people have greater resilience?â€� noted that, “The commonplace understanding is that there can be no relationship between religion and science and that if anything, faith is the enemy of mental health. But in fact, a growing body of research reveals clearly that religious people are healthier both physically and mentallyâ€� (January 21,2020). Science seems to acknowledge that if we are feeling overwhelmed, then there is nothing wrong with turning to God. In fact, it may even help. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus states, “Do not fear those who kill the body and cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both the soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs on your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrowsâ€� (Mt. 10: 28-31). In this passage, Jesus reminds us that despite the problems that we face in life, we need not be afraid. This is because we are so loved and valued by our God. When we feel overwhelmed or afraid, the natural tendency is to turn inward. Jesus, however, asks us to turn outward. He tells us to look at creation. We see how God looks after all things, especially the ‘birds of the air.’ God holds creation in balance and cares for all life, especially the life of each person. Like nature around us, all that we need to do is trust in our heavenly creator. This is not always easy when we seem to worry about so many things. The prophet Isaiah offers these helpful words, “For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you’â€� (Isaiah 41:13). Like a child with a loving parent, I invite you to take God’s hand. Walk with the Lord and see how your fear and anxiety can become hope and joy even during a pandemic.