An Avoidable Pandemic

There is a pandemic in our culture that has nothing to do with bugs that come from poultry or pigs or any other animal. In fact the offending germ originates in the brain. Millions of people are infected with the “Stupid Virus”, SV for short.

I can already hear the cries of the “Politically Correct”, “PC” for short, chanting in unison, condemning me for the use of the dreaded “S” word, but that wouldn’t be unusual since most people infected with the virus are inclined to deny and decry any mention of it.

Apart from that telling sign, the effects of this debilitating disease are easy to spot. When someone causes something tragic and immediately says, “But I didn’t think that…” it is usually a sure sign of infection. The unfortunate consequence of that person’s decision demonstrates that they likely didn’t think, a sure sign of SV.

Thinking is a rare discipline in our day and has been replaced with assumption. We all know what happens when we assume, it makes and “ass” out of “u” and “me”. As such there is no end with which to think and nobody wins when nobody thinks.

Another sure sign of SV is when people make accusations and suggest solutions to issues with which they have no personal involvement and have not verified facts in order to determine if indeed anything was broken in the first place. This presumption is the contagious agent of assumption and if caught in time can be contained to avoid a mass outbreak of SV, the symptoms of which are chills of gossip and a high fever of innuendo.

There are many more telling signs of SV but Christmas seems to be a time of year during which people are particularly susceptible to infection. I have pondered this phenomenon and have considered that it could be due to a sinister force, an agent of discord, whose sole aim is to desecrate this holy time of year. If ever we should engage our minds and think, it is now, the anniversary of Emmanuel, God among us. He is the Prince of Peace.

So in order to avoid SV let me suggest an ancient remedy that will immunize our minds:

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)

I suggest that one or more doses of this per day will keep the agent of discord away.