A serious invasion
A nation has invaded my land, powerful and without number (Joel 1:6)
'It's like it was in the War, George. Why don't you write about that?' My friend said. I gave my usual non-committal reply, 'Thanks, but I never decide in advance what I'm going to write about'. Then in today's reading up it pops. Joel describes the advance of the locusts as the invasion of a foreign power.
While we must avoid dear Donald's suggestion that this is a 'Chinese virus' as if it had some distinctive national characteristics, it is undeniable that it has crossed our borders from nation to nation, flying on the wings of Boeing (or any of its rivals for airspace). It has invaded. Not only that but many nations have reacted by going on a War footing, marshalling resources for one purpose, restricting unnecessary movement, invoking emergency legislation, prioritising key workers, even a form of rationing. So it must come as no surprise that, to those who have lived through war, it feels very familiar.
Joel's comparison takes us one step closer still. This invasion is not like one with a squadron of foot soldiers, it is an invasion 'without number'. Just as the locusts swarm in vast numbers, so a virus can be numbered in the quadrillions at least. This invader is, quite literally, beyond counting.
As such, it cannot be underestimated in its reach. Scenes of shoppers milling around together, of crowded tube trains, of over-flowing bars rightly horrify those who understand what is going on. It may not kill you if you are young and fit, but you may need a hospital bed, and, be assured, there won't be one if you carry on as normal and millions are infected. More than that, the chance it will kill your Grannys and Grandads is really quite high. 'A nation has invaded our land, powerful and without number' - now would be a good time to take that seriously.
'It's like it was in the War, George. Why don't you write about that?' My friend said. I gave my usual non-committal reply, 'Thanks, but I never decide in advance what I'm going to write about'. Then in today's reading up it pops. Joel describes the advance of the locusts as the invasion of a foreign power.
While we must avoid dear Donald's suggestion that this is a 'Chinese virus' as if it had some distinctive national characteristics, it is undeniable that it has crossed our borders from nation to nation, flying on the wings of Boeing (or any of its rivals for airspace). It has invaded. Not only that but many nations have reacted by going on a War footing, marshalling resources for one purpose, restricting unnecessary movement, invoking emergency legislation, prioritising key workers, even a form of rationing. So it must come as no surprise that, to those who have lived through war, it feels very familiar.
Joel's comparison takes us one step closer still. This invasion is not like one with a squadron of foot soldiers, it is an invasion 'without number'. Just as the locusts swarm in vast numbers, so a virus can be numbered in the quadrillions at least. This invader is, quite literally, beyond counting.
As such, it cannot be underestimated in its reach. Scenes of shoppers milling around together, of crowded tube trains, of over-flowing bars rightly horrify those who understand what is going on. It may not kill you if you are young and fit, but you may need a hospital bed, and, be assured, there won't be one if you carry on as normal and millions are infected. More than that, the chance it will kill your Grannys and Grandads is really quite high. 'A nation has invaded our land, powerful and without number' - now would be a good time to take that seriously.
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