A question for you. Since the pandemic more fully impacted our American culture, have you noticed any difference in social behavior? If not, consider yourself either blind or blessed.
I’ve read numerous stories over the last year of people acting out their frustrations and anger over many things. Perhaps the latest event that will send mothers into a frenzy is the shortage of baby formula. Why this problem?
Who knows truth in these matters. One Florida legislator said on social media that “They are sending pallets, pallets of baby formula to the border. Meanwhile, in our own district at home, we cannot find baby formula.” This assessment found agreement with the Governor of Texas. Apparently, it's more complex than that. CNN recently described the shortage as resulting from “the perfect storm.”
Think this could get ugly? Just like a shortage of toilet tissue and paper towels, shelves are emptying as mothers try to gobble up what they can of baby formula. Looking out for your neighbor isn’t on the table.
We see the seemingly natural way people choose to look out for themselves in difficult situations in natural disasters or life threatening situations. There are exceptions, of course. Those who sacrifice for others. But more often, concern over shortages drive people to hoard and seek out their own best interest.
In March of this year the Atlantic shared a story titled, “Why are People Acting so Weird?” Do they really mean weird, or somewhat out-of-control? Maybe it’s both.
As the Atlantic reporter pointed out, “During the pandemic, disorderly, rude, and unhinged conduct seems to have caught on…everything from rudeness and carelessness to physical violence.” Americans are driving more recklessly with more crashes and pedestrian deaths. Health-care workers complain about patients who behave badly—even threateningly! It was told that hospitals in Missouri were going to outfit nurses with panic buttons!
In Chicago, we see regular news reports of carjackings and car thefts. It’s happening elsewhere in cities. Murder rates were up in 2020 and 2021.
Experts tend to blame these violent reactions to Covid-induced stress. People can’t get what they want when they want. Everything about their lives changed as the pandemic impacted employment, prices, and the quality of service everywhere.
And then there were those masks. Constant conflict about where one mask would help. Or two. Or three. Or…NO mask. Try enforcing a mask policy on someone who is convinced it doesn’t help at all.
Add to this all those supply chain issues. Maddening.
Much of this behavior seems to be blamed on the increased isolation bred through the pandemic. We’ve become less social. And we’re meant to be social. Perhaps that makes sense. Psalm 18:1 reads, “One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.” HCSB
I see another new problem surfacing. It’s in the attitude of people. It’s just not a few non-conformists. I think we’re seeing a rise of people creating their own rules. And their own forms for punishment or retribution.
As the pressures of life mount, perhaps what we’re really seeing is an unveiling of our true selves. At our core, mankind tends to be a sinful, selfish brood. When instability impacts our world and we can’t get what we want, Americans turn nasty. Sometimes violent. Certainly angry. Have we reached that point?
The sins of the flesh. In Galatians 5:19-21 it is written, “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.” (NIV)
Sounds like a litany of life in America these days. Our broken state comes from our broken moral and spiritual lives. Only spiritual transformation will bring us hope. Will it arrive in time?
That’s Forward Thinking.
You can find a number of YouTube episodes and podcasts of Mark’s program, Moving People Forward at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCosyuBzdSh1mXIas_kGY2Aw?
For more information on the Elfstrand Group, please visit www.elfstrandgroup.com
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