The Subtle Pandemic
By Katherine Khaw
The pandemic of COVID-19 – This event, which has engulfed the world in new fears, does not require further elaboration. The spread of a virus is still present today, though countries are moving closer to the term “endemic.”
On the other hand, this article will shed light on the other pandemic. Many people’s lives have been thrown into disarray due to subtle uncertainty. I’ll call it the “social pandemic.”
FOMO (fear of missing out) has grown in popularity over the years. The desire to show and the need to be included has been accelerated by social media. There is no good way to learn that you have been excluded from a gathering through online postings (mostly in real-time, because why post it later?). This has impacted generations of people: much more time is spent online due to connectivity.
When we are unable to go outside, the ability to communicate virtually proves to be an incomparable asset. Face-to-face interactions, on the other hand, could not be easily interchanged. We get snippets of the real thing, such as a voice note, imagining their facial reactions, or representative avatars on social media platforms. However, this is insufficient.
The torrential flow of information has resulted in two outcomes:
- A never-ending hunger to stay online, be the next thing and be in the know.
- A desire to cut all ties.
The first is the more common (in relation to the aforementioned FOMO). This has impacted one’s self-esteem, concentration levels, and outlook on one’s own life, for better or worse. People’s ability to curate and catalogue a perception of their lifestyle has grown on social platforms. People quickly adapt to texting and responding, especially when it is less expensive than traditional SMS (oh, to be charged per text!). Because everything is available online, there is no longer a need to read minds.
The second is less likely, but individuals experience it. Admittedly, I am one of these. I could easily muster affection and care in my heart, but I didn’t want to act it out. While my peers grumbled about being cooped up indoors or cheered gleefully when infection rates dropped, I had no desire to socialise.
I needed to unplug. After feeling as if I had held on to other people’s lifelines for so long (whether for encouragement or comfort), it was as if I had let go of mine.
After being bombarded with messages, calls, online video sessions, and other means, I just wanted to be alone. Others thought it was strange and unnatural. I wanted to walk away from a time when people “should” be more united or closer together. People around me were making plans to get together, celebrate life events, and so on, but I just didn’t feel the same way. Initial intentions to be optimistically dissipated.
Nonetheless, addressing this stress is necessary to grasp the unfamiliar changes. Walking alongside others in life is still essential for growth and accountability. The Bible teaches us many reasons why we should travel together, including the following:
- Being connected can make one another better
Proverbs 27:17 indicates that “as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another”. While being with one another can be troublesome or uncomfortable at times, the constant interaction would influence one’s mode of behaviour and outlook. The company you keep will enhance your attributes and even give way to new ones to arise. We are called to build one another up (paraphrased from 1 Thessalonians 5:11).
- Sharing the burden
When we “carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfil the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). Through the thick and thin, staying connected makes people feel less alone. This can supplement a person’s courage to move forward despite the situation at hand. Showing this love emulates Jesus’ command to love our neighbours.
- Joy in unity
Psalm 133:1 declares, “how good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity”! In biblical times, this was addressed to the unification of Israel’s tribes. This joy is still experienced today when we can arrive at mutual understanding. In pursuing a relationship with others, we seek a common bond and goal in life.
- Glorifies Christ
Jesus commands for each person to love, and he has loved us for “greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:12-13). We show love by caring and exhorting one another through our acts and prayers. By coming together, Christ is glorified in our relationships.
This is not an exhaustive list but rather the beginning of the whys. While the world may progress in various ways in the post-pandemic (and into the endemic) era, some things must remain constant. The plague may have shaken people’s social structures, but staying firmly rooted in our relationships is essential. Let us not give up and retreat, but rather become godly influences in each other’s lives. We should do this out of love, honour, and reverence for Jesus Christ.
I’m still figuring out how to deal with the changes that have occurred, but when it comes to relationships, we must aim to ignite and strengthen them even as the new year approaches.
About Katherine Khaw
Katherine is a relentless pursuer of knowledge. She strives toward it by reading extensively and engaging in online courses. Quiet morning walks and gardening are the simple joys in her life. Her inspiration is found within the love for stargazing and reaching into the lives of others. She aspires to love deeply and patiently; to be more than mere dust.
