Day 244: 2.5 Million Years of Life Lost

 

DAY 244

Faith in the Midst of a Pandemic

A series of daily reflections for people of faith

by Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor

Patuxent Presbyterian Church, California, Maryland

pastorrobert@paxpres.org

Week Thirty-five    Friday 13 November 2020

2.5 Million Years of Life Lost

“In less than a year, the coronavirus has killed more than 225,000 Americans. But even that staggering number downplays the true toll of the pandemic. Every death represents years of potential life lost, years that might otherwise have been filled with rich memories of family, friends, productivity and joy – trips to the grocery store, late night conversations on the phone, tearful firsts with a newborn baby…. In a new analysis, a geneticist at a major university tabulated the ages of Americans known to have died of COVID-19, and tallied the number of years they might have lived had they reached a typical life expectancy. His calculations show that the coronavirus has claimed more than 2.5 million years of potential life in the United States since the start of 2020. Nearly half of those years were taken from people under the age of 65…. ‘These are everyday people who are dying,’ he said. ‘They’re losing time with their kids, their grandkids, their opportunities to build their futures.’” - From a current newspaper article by the same name.

“’O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you – O Absalom, my son, my son!’” 2 Samuel 18:33. This is easily the most wrenching heart cry in all the Bible. David is mourning the loss of his son and not only the love from him and to him lost, but his life in the future, all the things that would never be because of his untimely death.

“Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’ As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” James 5:13-17. It is unwise to assume the future is secured. This Scripture calls us to ask what the good is that we ought to be doing, now, and sternly informs us that to not do that good is sin. It’s a matter of redeeming time - time those who have died of COVID-19 no longer have.  

Reflective question: Are you, while living, losing time by being careless with it? Determine to pray each day asking the Lord to help you become a careful faithful steward of your time.

Reflective Scripture: Ephesians 5:16 – “…make the most of your time, because the days are evil.”

Reflective hymn: “Sovereign Ruler of the Skies” – John Ryland (1753-1825)

Sovereign Ruler of the skies! Ever gracious, ever wise!

All my times are in Thy hand, all events at Thy command.

He that formed me in the womb, He shall guide me to the tomb;

All my times shall ever be, ordered by His wise decree.