by Andy Pearce

One of the first days after the stay-at-home order went into effect was very hard. I was in my bedroom for most of the day with my laptop, a good book, my Bible, and a couple of long-term projects to work on. Instead of being productive, I found myself feeling increasingly anxious and tense, and I also felt sadness. By the end of the day, I realized that I had not been motivated to do much. I became aware that I had been thrust into a very different experience due to COVID-19. Instead of an Indian lunch with an ISI co-worker, tennis with a Japanese researcher at Caltech, reading the Bible with an international student, and helping a Pakistani student with math, my calendar was empty. Then I realized that I was experiencing a form of culture shock. Maybe it could be called isolation shock!

We are all familiar with the term “culture shock” because many experience it when they arrive in a different culture. A Canadian anthropologist named Kalervo Oberg coined the term in 1960.

He describes culture shock as “precipitated by the anxiety that results from losing all our familiar signs and symbols of social intercourse.” Without a doubt, the isolation that has resulted from COVID-19 has taken away many of the “familiar signs and symbols” of my “social discourse.”

Oberg distinguishes four stages of culture shock: honeymoon, crisis, recovery, and adjustment. I realized that I was happy on the first day of being home. I had a chance to finish a book, watch a good Indian movie, get my desk and files more organized, take a long run, etc. It was the honeymoon stage. But then came the crisis. Some describe this stage as mild depression. It was like being in an unfamiliar country even though I was at home!

The next day, I made a list of the international students and team members I would normally be connecting with and began to message a few. I also initiated a couple of video meetings with several former students who had moved away. I had a good relationship with them, but I feel out of touch with them after they moved away. I was very encouraged when I re-connected with them. I felt that I had recovered.

The final stage is adjustment. I am now adjusting to the current social reality. Rather than feeling sad about the loss of the regular Monday English Conversation Class for Caltech internationals, I was encouraged when we set up the class to meet on Zoom. Amazingly, we had a few more attend than we had at recent in-person classes. Two couples who just returned to Asia even joined. The splitting into three groups to discuss our topic went very well despite not being face-to-face. The conversations were deeper than before. I am thankful for the tools God has given us to help adjust to the current isolation.

It was surprising to realize that I experienced the four stages of culture shock without leaving my home. Perhaps others are experiencing it (or will experience it) as well. A verse that has helped me considerably to cope with culture/isolation shock is Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose” (ESV). So we know that if we keep our focus on the purpose to which we are called, even COVID-19 will work for good.

by Jon H.

I was asked to write this article over a month ago. Little did I know at the time, it would be published during a season such as this. Amongst the countless thoughts I’ve had during these crazy times, I wanted to share two things that I’ve rediscovered and learned to enjoy.

1.  God brings his strength through weakness 

The current pandemic is forcing the world to come face-to-face with our utter weakness. It’s mind-boggling to think that a microscopic virus can shut down the entire globe! Personally, I don’t like seeing my weaknesses let alone feeling helpless. But during this season, this has all become too glaring. I am dependent on others to ship food (and toilet paper) to the store and I am dependent on others to sell it to me. No matter how many times I wash my hands, I am helpless to ensure personal protection from Covid-19. Ultimately, it is obvious that I am dependent on God for everything both big and small, eternal and immediate.  

In 2 Cor 12:9, Jesus reminds us that our weaknesses are vessels for God’s strength. My powerlessness is the container that carries God’s power. My frailties are the occasions for God’s grace to glimmer. If this is true, then some of the things I hate to face and feel are necessary for me to see and experience God’s might. I must decrease that He might increase! This gives me hope. The very thing I’m good at (being needy) is the means by which God’s greatness is displayed. Additionally, if we are witnessing global-sized weakness, I trust that God will be bringing global-sized transformation as well. Maybe not easy and painless change but God-sized and glorious, nonetheless.

2. God sends gifts in plain packages

If God brings his power through our weaknesses, some of us may be wondering, “Why don’t I see it happening in my life?” One reason might be because it has not happened yet. In other words, God’s grace is still coming, so hang in there! But another reason might be because it is here but we have yet to recognize it. Why? Because God’s gifts often come in unusual packages, seemingly wrapped in plain brown paper rather than glitz and gold. They may appear simple and even odd but if we take a deeper look, we discover that they are purposeful and even delightful.

Currently, most of my normal activities have seized. Not being able to go out to eat, visit friends or even gather for worship is frustrating but I am being given the gift of rest. Not necessarily physical rest for I find myself just as tired as before. But I am being given rest for my soul. It’s not a gift I readily received. In fact, I ignored or rejected it in various ways. It’s taken more than a month to seize striving and rest in God alone. Deep, honest lamenting and letting the truth of the Psalms wash over my racing mind has been grace to my weary soul. 

I don’t want to minimize the severe suffering many are experiencing but there are also many of us who are simply inconvenienced. If that’s you, receive this forced sabbatical as a gift from the hand of the Father. Rest in him is a gift that allows us to recognize and enjoy the other gifts he gives. It will require slowing down and watching for glimpses of grace especially in the ordinary. As time goes by, I am beginning to see his gifts glisten. I see it at home when my family of six cooks and enjoys a meal together, when we clear the weeds to make room for a vegetable garden or when I step outside to be warmed by the sunlight and refreshed by the breeze whistling through the trees. These are simple gifts that rarely happened in the past or when they did, I rarely appreciated or enjoyed them.

In the midst of uncertain and trying times, look for and receive the gifts from the good hands of the Father. Expect that his deepest graces will appear in your weariness, weakness and helplessness. Rather than reject them, receive them and take delight knowing that in Christ, God is loving you dearly through this time.

by Victor Chen

I knew we were in for a battle.

People hinted that things would get bad, but we could never prepare for how things have turned out. Each day seemed to spiral as the numbers escalated. 

I’m not talking about the battle against this novel virus.

I’m referring to the battle that is raging in our homes.

Sibling fights are at an all time high. Parents are quickly running out of patience with their children (something you could never seem to stock up on). Spouses are short with each other and seem to drift further away.

What is going on? 

Being at home with each other all the time has brought to surface the relational dynamics that were always there. They were just accounted for by regular schedules, everyday expectations, healthy space, and more space. All of a sudden, our schedules meshed together, spaces became shared (without our permission!), and all breaks from each other gone. 

That is a perfect storm for relational conflict, and lots of it.

Whether it is explosive conflict rivaling that of a nighttime fireworks extravaganza or a cold war where everybody is threatening a nuclear option, the mood at home is tense to say the least.

Wretched men and women that we are, who can save us from this body of death?

Here are some practical tips from the Bible to help navigate the battle at home.

Engage rather than withdraw

Our tendency in conflict is to withdraw. We are more prone to remove ourselves from conflict, rather than to stay in it and engage. It’s easier to run away. 

But we are called to engage, pursue, and reconcile. Parents, it is easy to separate fighting children. It is difficult yet necessary to coach our children to engage each other. 

Reconcile rather than keep the peace

We are good at “keeping the peace”. That is just separating and acting like nothing happened. That just means the relationship stays on simmer for years until bitterness boils over.

We are called to reconcile, to acknowledge wrong, to forgive, and be forgiven. 

Above all else, forgive

We all know that the word, “Sorry”, can be flimsy. We need to be specific about what we are sorry for, “I am sorry for ___”. Be sure to also ask for forgiveness, “Please forgive me for ___”. 

When somebody asks for forgiveness, do not say, “It’s ok”. That doesn’t do anything. Say, “I forgive you”, and be sure you mean it.

When Jesus says that we should forgive our brother “seventy times seven”, he is not referring to the number of times we forgive, but rather the degree with which we forgive (Matthew 18:21-35). This is in contrast to to the degree with which we can act out in vengeance (Genesis 4:24).

The battle may rage in our homes, but that is ok. Conflict happens, especially when we’re around each other all the time.

The key is forgiveness, the forgiveness that comes only from Jesus. 

Let that rule in your home, especially in the midst of the battle.

by David Kim

Disclaimer: What I am about to write is simply my own reflection. It isn’t even necessarily based from my own personal experience, simply thoughts during this season. Take it for what it’s worth in light of God’s truths. 

God is good and He is in control

God is good and He is in control. 
God is good and He is in control.

During this season where so many things are beyond our control, many of us have been finding comfort in these words. I see it and hear it everywhere.

God is good and He is in control.

In many ways these words represent a deep truth and reality. The Scriptures clearly tell us that God is good. God is sovereign and in control. And so many of us remind ourselves of these two truths because we want the comfort that is found in this reality.

Time of Tragedy

But my fear is that as we say these words, as we remind ourselves of these truths, we dismiss the other realities around us. Yes, God is good and He is in control. But people are indeed hurting. People are indeed losing jobs. People are indeed falling into depression. People are indeed dying. 

In the midst of great tragedy, it is vital that we remind ourselves of God and His truth. But know this as well: we don’t have to pretend like we aren’t living in a season of tragedy.

Don’t be anxious, Don’t be robots

Philippians 4:6-7 tells us: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Don’t be anxious. We are told to not live as if we do not have a God who is good and who is in control. As if we do not have access to a heavenly Father who cares for us.

But don’t be anxious does not equal don’t feel pain, sadness, and sorrow. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t mourn for those who are hurting. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t feel the pain of a broken world. This doesn’t mean, pretend like everything is all right.

We still live in a broken and fallen world no matter how good and sovereign God is. There is still pain, suffering, and brokenness. And so it is okay to feel. 

In fact, some of us probably should feel more than we do right now. Some of us are trying to shield ourselves from the realities of people’s pain and suffering by just closing our ears and repeating the words “God is good and He is in control” and using it like a mantra.

Instead, we should recognize that things aren't right. And that is sad. But we can have hope that one day God will make things right again. And we won't be sad anymore.

I say all of this because I want to remind people that is it okay to feel a range of emotions during this season. 

Truths not Mantras

It is okay to feel. It is okay to be sad, yet have hope, faith, and trust in God. One does not negate the other. Feeling sad does not negate our faith. 

God is indeed good and He is indeed in control.

Let those words be a truth in which we find our firm foundation when we are in stormy waters, not a mantra we say to soothe ourselves when we have a hard time sleeping.

Maybe a better phrase might be:

God is indeed good and He is indeed in control. But things aren’t perfect right now.

by Victor Chen

When we first received news of the “Stay at Home” order, we wondered what would happen to Easter. As best as we could, we tried not to go there. The thought of not being able to gather for Easter was unthinkable.

And yet here we are.

Easter is a big deal. If the resurrection didn’t happen, then we are all fools (1 Cor. 15:17). Easter is the reason why we gather on Sunday and not on the traditional day of Sabbath on Saturday. So it’s sad that we won’t be together to celebrate the first Lord’s Day on Easter.

But as I studied the events of this Holy Week, I realized that a “stay at home” order was given to God’s people. In fact, they were to celebrate this every year and “stay at home” to commemorate what happened that fateful night. Jesus even celebrated it on His final night with His friends. 

What was this “stay at home” order given by God? 

It was the Passover.

While slaves in Egypt, God’s people stayed in their homes one night and marked the outside of their homes with the blood of a lamb. The Lord would then bring death to the first-born of every household as judgment on Egypt, but would “pass over” the homes marked by the blood of a lamb. God commanded His people to commemorate this night with the annual celebration of this “Passover”. (Exodus 12:21-27)

So maybe staying at home for this Holy Week and Easter may not be such a bad thing after all. 

We get to remember how the Lord passed over our sins, we who are covered by the blood of the Lamb. We get to remember how the Lamb of God this week walked to His death, like a lamb led to the slaughter. We get to remember how He was silent before His accusers, pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities, and how by His wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:4-9). We get to rejoice that the Lamb of God has overcome.

We get to celebrate this in our homes, where Passover was originally celebrated.

Maybe home is not a bad place to start after all.