In the summer of 1984, a campy comedy was released and quickly became a a box-office hit. Ghostbusters was a sci-fi movie that pitted the forces of good and evil in a light-hearted way. Seriously, who can really fear the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, even if he’s 10-stories tall and crushing everything in his path?

And, with every good movie there’s often a reasonably good soundtrack or theme song. Queue the music and Ray Parker, Jr.

If there’s something strange in you neighborhood,
Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!
If there’s something weird and it don’t look good,
Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!

That was 36 years and a world of reality ago. As Dinah Washington sang, “What a difference a day makes!”

COVID-19 is real. What is (or more) real is the fear of coronavirus.

Was that a sneeze? Am I infected? What should I do? Who am I gonna call?

As one community first-responder put it, “When we feel threatened and scared, it’s difficult to have perspective.”

While isolation may preclude infection, it’s fertile ground for breeding paranoia and fear. The internet and social media are packed with recommendations, speculation, advice, executive orders and falsehoods.

If there’s something strange in you neighborhood, who you gonna call?

Ironically, the original Apple Macintosh personal computer went on sale in January of 1984.

I don’t have a death wish and I do think about the well-being of those I know and love. It’s certain that navel-gazing worry is ineffective, and meaningful reassurance from the government or health organizations is limited. So, who you gonna call?

God is our refuge and strength,
    a help always near in times of great trouble.
That’s why we won’t be afraid when the world falls apart,
    when the mountains crumble into the center of the sea,
when its waters roar and rage,
    when the mountains shake because of its surging waves.

As we enter a phase when social distancing and isolation are being encouraged, even mandated, we need to lean-into the situation and evidence the salt and light and live-out the spiritual societal contagion we are called to be.

And, yes, let’s continue to wash our hands, cover our coughs and sneezes, and stay home when sick.

Categories: Christian Christianity Community coronavirus Follower Of Jesus

Pastor Mark

A p-k (preacher’s kid), Mark is the eighth of nine children born to Reuben and Henrietta Meeks, prolific planters of nearly 30 churches throughout the Central Valley of California. After four decades of teaching, discipling, and ministering, including to the hospitalized and imprisoned, Mark responded to God’s call to pastoral ministry. In addition to degrees in civil engineering and public administration, Mark received his Masters in Theology from Fuller Seminary.