Choosing Dancing Over Depression

“Life is a gift. We must celebrate it. We have to dance to show God we are grateful to be alive.”

Rosie played by Scarlett Johansson in Jojo Rabbit

Well, we’re over a month in on this crazy Coronavirus rollercoaster. Just three weeks ago, in the midst of trying to launch a book, I was struggling like many of you to get my head around the difference between COVID-19 and the flu. At that time, I came across this helpful one-page summary. It said that COVID-19 was worse than the flu because:

  • It infects twice as many people.
  • The incubation time is up to 3x more, making it exponentially more dangerous.
  • You’re 10x more likely to be hospitalized.
  • It’s 10x more deadly. One article I read called it a “lung eater” for certain individuals.

Although it’s a little better this week, I was so disheartened and angry with all the misinformation going around on FaceBook. Misinformation that downplayed what the CDC was saying—sadly, mostly by Christians who laced Bible verses about not worrying in between posts. As a Pastor, I could not be more opposed to this blatant ignorance and cavalier disregard for life.

A Christ-like and intelligent response to what we’re facing is rather this: Against a backdrop of respect for mainstream science (e.g. M.D.’s and people with actual Ph.D.’s in these fields) and showing solidarity with our communities, we need to choose:

  • faith over fear,
  • preparation over panic,
  • sharing over hoarding,
  • engagement over isolation, and, yes, as reflected in the quote above…
  • dancing over depression

And here are some reasons to dance—outwardly or in your spirit—that I’ve been reminded of or discovered in the last two weeks:

  • The mercy of Christ: I’m reading through Augustine’s Confessions this year and the following stood out: “Because Your mercy endures forever, You deign, when you forgive a soul all its debts to become yourself a debtor by your promises.” This is a marvelous thought especially when thinking about promises like this: “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.” (Ezekiel 36:25-27, NLT)
  • Christian joy: Charles Swindoll in Choosing Joy defines Christian joy as “a matter of attitude that stems from one’s confidence in God—that He is at work, that He is in full control, that He is in the midst of whatever has happened, is happening, and will happen.”
  • Great movies: No, movies can’t compare with the realities above and I’m certainly not suggesting that you binge away all your social distancing. God, however, “has given us all things richly to enjoy” (1 Tim. 6:17) and that includes great art that can both relax and move the human spirit. That said, I highly recommend the new movie Jojo Rabbit for its medicinal value during this time. Besides gifting us with the wonderful quote above, it’s a delightful movie that both funny and deeply moving at the same time.

Here are a few other eclectic options you might try (and please send me any of your favorites– I would love to hear from you!):

  • About Time
  • Skyfall—may be the best of the James Bond franchise
  • Nacho Libre
  • Mr. Bean’s Holiday
  • While You Were Sleeping
  • My Man Godfrey
  • Singing in the Rain
  • Secret Life of Walter Mitty- 2013
  • Little Princess
  • A Fairy Story
  • Secondhand Lions
  • Slum Dog Millionaire
  • Monkey Business
  • A River Ran Through it
  • Peanut Butter Falcon
  • Open Range- excellent western
  • Little Women– 1994
  • Napoleon Dynamite– this is one you either love or hate
  • Grand Torino
  • Wonder Woman– 2017
  • The Philadelphia Story—in my top three movies of all time
  • Emma-BBC, 1996
  • The Green Book
  • Midnight in Paris

Finally, N.T. Wright had a provocative piece published in Time magazine this week on the Coronavirus. Here’s a great quote from it:

“It is no part of the Christian vocation, then, to be able to explain what’s happening and why. In fact, it is part of the Christian vocation not to be able to explain—and to lament instead. As the Spirit laments within us, so we become, even in our self-isolation, small shrines where the presence and healing love of God can dwell. And out of that there can emerge new possibilities, new acts of kindness, new scientific understanding, new hope….”

N.T. (Tom) Wright- March 29, 2020 edition of Time magazine

Have a great week and please continue to help me get the word out about How I Became a Christian Despite the Church. You can do this in one or more of the following ways:

  • Buy and read it yourself
  • Give a copy to a friend or loved one
  • Share this link on social media with a recommendation
  • Write a review on Amazon

Thanks and stay safe!