Pestilences

My husband, taking a snooze after a hard-days work :)

"And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places." Matthew 24:7

"And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven." Luke 21:11

Yesterday on CNN I read this title "South Africa fighting 1,500 new HIV infections a day". You can read the actual article here. Because of my passion or fascination for Africa, I always go to the world news section. Most of it isn't good news. Wars, rumours of wars, famines, wild weather & disease top the charts of newsworthy items. I think its easy for most North Americans to keep these at an arms length when it doesn't affect home soil. Oh yes, terrorism is still real to the Americans, as is hurricanes & wild weather but what about serious disease. We pride ourselves on our top notch medical systems and teams work day & night trying to find the cure for this or that. Serious outbreaks are always on the radar as a possibility, but as yet, there isn't a debilitating disease ravaging our countries.

My husband has been battling the flu all week. Every 'flu season' vaccines are developed to include new or various strains of the influenza virus. It is recommended that people get the flu shot to prevent getting the flu, especially seniors & those who work in the medial profession, as well as those who come in contact with many people like teachers & service professionals. Neither of us got the flu shot this year (I hate needles) and a it looks like my immune system is still standing up to this strain. Why one person gets it and another doesn't is beyond me. I seem to have a constant sniffle all winter long but not usually a day where I don't feel well enough to go to work (hence, my mental health day) So, darling hubby has had the hot flashes, the freezing shivers, sweats & shakes, coughs & headaches. The flu has run the gamet thru his system as he rested & slept this week and now he seems to be on the mend.

Pestilence, according to Webster, is a contagious or infectious epidemic disease that is virulent and devastating.

I think of the pestilence like AIDs that is ravaging our Third World countries. True enough it is greatly affecting our countries as well but not in such a devastating magnitude. Countries like South Africa have long since kept this subject on the hush-hush because it wasn't something they wanted to discuss. Now that it is open & obvious, they are stepping up their efforts of education & prevention and trying to make their people more aware of 'cause and effect'.

The more we hear about diseases, the closer I think we are getting to the return of the Lord. Though it is dangerous times we live in, it isn't going to get better. We're going to keep hearing about it, seeing it around us & trying to make it all better. When a cure for one comes up, something else will be lurking around the corner. Not that I'm disease paranoid or trying to be depressing for the future outlook. It just is what it is and its drawing us nearer & nearer to that Great & Terrible Day. For that alone, I'm just a little bit excited.

In the mean time, however, millions are dying. Dying of disease, famine, war & weather. There is no respite in sight & I don't believe it will come. Sure there are charities, foundations, working missions & more and its terrific & wonderful for those doing their part to help. I commend them for their crown will be great.