Does Corona Have the Crown?

Eric Crowley
Apr 15, 2020
8 min read

Hello everyone!

Well, it took a world-wide pandemic to get me to sit down and write another blog. So here I am, on day 32 of not leaving my apartment in Cebu City, Philippines. And I have 12 days left until the end of our lockdown. Woo!

Corona virus has pretty much taken over our lives. It’s affected every person on the planet. I just got a message from a friend in a super remote village in the mountains of Honduras who told me that they are in quarantine! It’s affected our plans, our interactions, our mobility, our economy, our relationships, our decisions. Everything.

Have we given Corona the crown? As you may know, “corona” means crown in Latin, and Spanish (and in beer lingo). Have you given corona the crown? Has it taken over your life? For sure it has affected you in many ways. But have you given it the crown? We’re spending so much time trying to protect ourselves from the virus, which is good. But it’s possible that we may allow ourselves to be infected by the virus of fear, anxiety, worry, laziness, doubt. We have the choice. Are we allowing this virus to make us better people, a better society? Or are we allowing ourselves to become infected with its more insidious symptoms?

It’s so important for us to find hope in these times, so that we don’t fall in to fear, resentment, bitterness, despair. And there is so much hope to be seen!

It’s actually incredibly beautiful what is happening right now. The world has stopped. Economies have shut down and people have locked themselves in their homes. Why? Not necessarily because they’re afraid of getting the disease. Most of us would be fine if we got it. No. It’s to protect the most vulnerable among us: the aged and the sick. Countries around the world are literally shutting down in order to make sure that the weakest among us have a chance to live. People are closing businesses, losing money, putting their futures on hold, all so that we can protect people that we will never know. One man in New York recently gave free rent to all 200 units in his building. That’s probably over $200,000! People are sacrificing themselves and their own well-being to make sure that others are able to live. What could be more beautiful than that? Can you think of any other time in our lives when this has been seen on such a worldwide scale?

I have seen so many signs of hope in these past months. Not all of these are connected with Coronavirus. But nonetheless, they remind us that hope is always close at hand, if we just open our eyes to see it.

Sometimes it is in the smallest things. Before we went out lockdown, I was walking down the street when two kids went whizzing past me at top speed. They were flying down the street on rollerblades. I didn’t think anything of it until I realized that these two boys were sharing two roller blades. One had a roller blade on his left foot, and the other boy on his right, and they were supporting each other in the middle. I just began to laugh and laugh. What a beautiful sign of humanity coming together to support one another. Isn’t that what’s happening right now, all over the world? People coming together and supporting one another?

I was struck by something else very simple at a party: Some Filipinos were opening a gift, and instead of tearing apart the wrapping paper like a pack of hungry wolves, they removed it so delicately, finding the tape and prying it open without tearing the paper. And I realized: they’re going to save it and re-use it. What a beautiful gesture of humility, of resourcefulness. Something many of us would never even think of. Isn’t this what is happening all over the world? People are learning how to conserve, how to be resourceful, how to do without the excess.

Before Christmas, we were with our girl’s youth group, and I began asking them what they would want for Christmas if they could have anything. Far from requesting an iPhone or a car, here were some of their answers: “I want to see my dad.” “I want my family to be happy.” Reminding us of the things that truly matter. Isn’t that what’s happening around the world? We are realizing that the material things are not what make us happy. We are realizing what is really important.

I was at Mass on a random Saturday, and as I was leaving a saw a girl in the back pew. I knew I needed to talk to her. But I told myself, no, that’s silly; it’s just in my head. But as I left the church, the urge grew. Go back and talk to her. “Lord, I don’t know what to say!” I realized pretty quickly that this was a lame excuse. So I went back in, went over to her, and introduced myself. It turns out that she had just ended a long, unhealthy relationship, and she had come to church in desperation, not knowing what to do. She had cried out to God, “Please give me a sign that You are there, that You hear me!” And right then, I walked over and started talking to her. We got to pray together, and in the end she told me, “I know now that God is here, that He is with me.” What a beautiful moment of hope! God brought together two people who didn’t know each other, and who never would have met. Isn’t that what’s happening all around the world right now? Even though we are all isolated, we are drawing together more than ever before.

I had a very unexpected visitor at Christmastime, who got stuck at my parent’s house for a week. We did the normal Christmas activities: decorating the tree, watching Christmas movies, playing games. After a few days, my friend told me: This has been the best week. I’ve never decorated a tree. I’ve never watched a movie with my parents. I’ve never played games with my family. Now I understand what a family is supposed to be. Isn’t this what is happening all around the world? We have these chances to be with our families, literally locked up with them. We have chances to talk, to play, to rest, together; to show each other little acts of love. We are realizing that it is these little gestures that matter.

One of the Brother’s here in a religious community was sharing his story with me. He is from China. He said that, growing up, they had to have secret Masses. They would call all the families to tell them that the “teacher” (aka the priest) was coming to someone’s apartment. They had to change the place every time, so as to not cause suspicion. They never took the Eucharist for granted. It’s something they had to risk their lives for. Isn’t that what’s happening around the world? The churches are closed. We can’t receive the Eucharist. And now we are beginning to understand its true value. We have taken Him for granted for so long. Maybe now we are realizing that the our faith is something we would be willing to risk our lives for…

Recently our mission car broke down. Totally dead. It’s been a long time coming. Our busiest mission season was fast approaching, and with almost no money, we wondered how we were going to be able to serve. Until one amazingly generous donor bought us a car. Isn’t this what’s happening all over the world? People are helping each other out, providing for those in need. Just last week, my friends and I decided that we had to do something to help the poor here in Cebu. We sent out a few messages to see if anyone was interesting in donating food or money. Within a few days, we had almost $1,000! We were able to buy food to support over 150 families for one week.

I had the privilege of visiting a youth jail here in Cebu. I got to talk to many of the boys, and they were just thirsting for someone to give them attention. We had a program with them, and then had Mass and adoration. You might think this would be boring for a bunch of teenage boys; on the contrary, they were so joyful, so excited, literally screaming the songs and all the responses. During the time of adoration, they took turns going up to kneel right in front of the Blessed Sacrament, and then they would kiss their hands and gently caress the monstrance where the Blessed Sacrament is held. Isn’t this what is happening all over the world? We’re now all, more or less, in jail, enclosed in our own homes. How are we using that time? Are we allowing boredom or fear to let ingratitude and frustration grow? Or are we, like the boys in the jail, choosing to remain joyful and grateful, even in the midst of a difficult situation?

It is a choice. In the end, no situation can force us to be sad, ungrateful, bitter. We are utterly free. Choose joy. Choose gratitude. Choose to see the little moments of hope. These are the moments that are true.

All of us have more free time than we are used to. How are we using it? We can let this Coronavirus be the cure to the difficulties in our own lives, in our societies. If we choose to, it can continue to bring about great good in our lives. Here are a few ideas of how you can let Coronavirus be a cure in your life, instead of a disease:

PRAY. We all have time now. Start by taking 5 minutes and sit in total silence. Talk to Jesus. Tell Him about your fears, your day, your hopes. Listen. 5 minutes. No phones. No music. We can’t hear the voice of the Lord but in silence. If you can make this a daily habit now, I promise it will change your life.

BE PRESENT. Be present to those around you. Usually we have so many things going on, it’s hard for us to just be present. Truly present. So, let’s be present. Sit and have a conversation with someone in your family. Ask them how they’re really doing. And listen to what they say. You don’t have to give advice or have all the answers. Just be there.

PLAY GAMES. What a beautiful thing it would be if every family could draw closer and bond during this time. Playing games is an amazing way for this to happen. Just don’t get too overly competitive – or your family might end up with more division than before! ;)

MAKE A SCHEDULE. Pick a few things that you’d like to do every day, and then sit down and write out a daily schedule. And stick to it. This will ensure that you get to all the things you want to do, and will protect you from boredom, laziness, and wasted time.

EXERCISE. Most of us finally have time to do this! So make it a habit every day. We all need to stay active more than ever since we’re not leaving our houses!

START THAT HOBBY YOU’VE ALWAYS BEEN WANTING TO DO. Learn the guitar. Start learning a language. Learn to draw. Learn to do origami. There are a million resources at our fingertips that we can use to learn something new and exciting.

Don’t let corona have the crown. “In all things God works for good for those who love Him” (Romans 8:28). He wants to bring good out of this disease. He wants to use it as a cure for the ills of an aching humanity. Let us choose His way. Let us choose to see hope. Let us allow this virus to be our cure.

If you would like to help us in our cause of feeding the poorest families here in Cebu, please email me to see how you can help.

May God be with us all,

Eric