“Year of Wonders” is a novel by Geraldine Brooks. Although fiction, it is based on the experience of the small village of Eyam, in Derbyshire, England. The year is 1666 and the subject is a plague, carried to this small village on a bolt of cloth from London. In a generous and self-sacrificing spirit, and on the suggestion of the parish priest, the community decides to isolate so they don’t carry the plague to others. Only one family disagrees, the wealthiest in the village. They lock up their palatial home and leave.

The plague is indiscriminate and merciless. Whole families perish, one after another. Some provide comfort and care to others, at the risk of life and limb themselves. Others search, with limited success, for some kind of merciful, medicinal relief for those in the throes of death. An herbalist becomes a sought after healer. Before the story ends, two thirds of the village population are dead and buried. Many of the still living question their decision to isolate. Some go crazy, seeking plague villains in their midst.

I started reading this novel before COVID came to our door. I finished reading it having tested positive for this contemporary plague. My COVID experience was like that of a bad cold; congestion, sore throat and cough. I can only imagine what it might have been like had I been a vaccine denier. As a smoker in my younger years, I doubt my respiratory system would have managed this new challenge very well. My guess is, without a vaccine, it would have meant hospitalization, intubation and likely death. Vaccines have been added to my prayers of gratitude.

I also became aware with COVID of how I didn’t want to spread this plague to others. Since my wife got it first, we could self isolate together, which we did. When the worst was over and there was still some need to be abroad, the masks came out again. Reading “Year of Wonders” put this personal experience of COVID in a much larger and more meaningful context. COVID was not one small village or even a city like London. This was a pandemic, world-wide, with enormous loss of life; more than a million here at home.

What a small sacrifice to wear a mask. No one was asking us to stay at home or stay in our village. Yet, many in this country couldn’t wear a mask for others, as it restricted their “freedom.” They would have left Eyam for sure, rather than perform such a sacrifice. You certainly wouldn’t have found those folks in hospitals, tending the sick, comforting the dying, and putting themselves at risk.

Even more worrisome than COVID or some future bodily pandemic, is the spiritual plague that’s abroad. It is made manifest and visible in many places but most egregiously here at home and in elements of the Christian religious community. The latest example of the sickness is found on Truth Social, the Trump social media website.

In a video posted there, “God made Trump,” he becomes God’s gift to the country, as we needed a “shepherd to mankind;” God’s “caretaker;” a person “strong in faith.” We need him to stand up to the “fake news,” turn fossil fuels into gold, fix the economy, “wrestle the deep state,” go into the den of vipers, fight the system. Trump is projected as the new Messiah, sent by God to save the country from both internal and external threats. You must see it! Check it out for yourself: https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/111703421569603715

This video is sheer and utter spiritual blasphemy! For Christians, the one sent by God was humble, a servant, obedient to love of the neighbor even unto death; not boastful and self righteous, nor a narcissist, nor selfish and focused on one’s own vanity and self importance.

It continues to be a complete mystery to me how any Christian, schooled in the Jesus of the New Testament, could consider this liar and prideful man as a Christ figure. He’s much more like the anti-Christ! And violence rides on his horns and heels!

This spiritual plague abroad in our country is more dangerous than COVID. Just as spiritual health can be the underpinning of physical health in a society, spiritual sickness can undercut the healthy spirits of any community. I’m afraid it’s happening all around us; as anger, hate, victimization of the “other,” and threats and deeds of violence escalate.

I must agree with my evangelical Christian brothers and sisters, we are engaged in spiritual warfare. We are approaching a spiritual plague of unprecedented proportions in this country. The New Testament Gospels are an excellent vaccine. One works, hopes and prays that the Jesus one finds there will prevail.