Love in the Time of Coronavirus

In the span of a few months, coronavirus has seemingly brought the world to its knees by perpetuating illness & death and disrupting regular routines. Coronavirus is now ubiquitous for “social distancing,” “self-isolation,” and “shelter in place.” In the context of dating, coronavirus seems to present a no-win dilemma for those seeking love; if I cancel the date, I risk dying alone; if I go on the date, I risk dying now. Facetiousness aside, there is no question that those in areas the CDC determines to be impacted should opt for a virtual date for the health and safety of themselves and others.[1]

Thus, the overall health crisis creates added complexity for those who are already struggling to find love in the complex dating landscape of 2020. 

On the surface, coronavirus with all its restrictions seems to have put a foil in my new year’s resolution to live a “year of love.” My intent was to live out this goal by seeking to love God, love others, and love myself. I will admit that I was most hopeful that my year of love would bring an opportunity to fall in love. While my dating life was pretty quiet prior to coronavirus, throw a pandemic in the mix and my chances of finding true love seem more dismal than ever before. After all, what happens to love in a time where people are separated from one another, where making plans feels futile, and where living in fear is the new norm?    

Love loves to overcome; not even a global pandemic can hold it back. Where coronavirus can bring death, love brings life. Where illness can last more than six weeks,[2] love can last a lifetime. Moreover, I am convinced that the most powerful of all love stories are born out of adversity. Consider Romeo & Juliet or Pride & Prejudice or Love in the Time of Cholera. In the latter book, Gabriel Garcia Marquez demonstrates that love can endure hardships such as rejection and decades-long separation yet still remain constant. In my own life, my parents endured an oceans-wide long-distance relationship in a time when texting or FaceTime didn’t exist. In these cases and countless others, love perseveres.

The most powerful example of love overcoming is in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. In dying on a cross to overcome evil, Jesus expressed agape, or selfless love: “for God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son…” (John 3:16). In this way, God’s love set the standard for all other love stories. Kingdom Culture Worship sums it up well when they sing: “[t]o be loved is to be loved by You.” [3] Because of Jesus, the amazing thing is, that we are never a day without God’s love. There is so much comfort, particularly in a time such as this, in recognizing the constancy of God’s love.

The Bible puts it this way: “[f]or I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord,” (Romans 8:38). Just as Ariza’s love for Fermina extends beyond place & time in Love in the Time of Cholera, God’s love exists not in a vacuum, but in an endless continuum.

It is a love that keeps me secure, brings me hope, and vanquishes my anxieties in this turbulent time, trusting that I: “can feel wonderfully secure in Love that has no boundaries or limits.” [4] Ultimately, God’s love for us is eternal; no amount of social distancing can separate us from Him.

While creating new in-person connections may be temporarily on hold, love endures. Focusing on God’s love in this time has taught me about the constancy of love, even in the midst of difficult circumstances.

In viewing life through the lens that God loves me, hope abounds. I pray that God’s love gives you joy, stability, and peace in the midst of an uncertain time. 

Cailey is a twenty-something with a knack for building communities, a dedication to pursuing self-growth, and a love for writing. For Cailey, spending time with family and friends, swimming, and reading a good book are some of life’s most simple and wonderful pleasures. In this unique season, Cailey hopes to pursue her passion for writing in order to encourage others. She currently makes her home just outside of Boston in Quincy, Massachusetts.

[1] https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/map-and-travel-notic...
[2]https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavir...
[3] Abide, Kingdom Culture Worship
[4] Jesus Always: Embracing Joy in His Presence, by Sarah Young p. 105