Pig Paranoia Runs Wild

While I was gone to Africa our students were getting ready to head to Camp Whatever, our annual Student Camp.  It's one of the absolute best weeks of the year for our student ministry.  We always see many students embrace Christ & many others make life changing commitments to radically run after God by serving Him on the mission field or some other area of vocational ministry.  I actually think our adults leaders are impacted as much as our students.  It's a red letter week that everyone has circled on their calendar all year.

But, this year had an interesting twist.  Last week, another local church used the same camp & sent some students home early with the flu.  So, the Swine flu became the immediate topic of discussion...even though, to this point, there have been no known confirmed cases of the swine flu. 

Our staff has a huge weight of responsibility on their shoulders for the physical safety of every kid that goes on any trip or attends any event sponsored by LifePoint.  So, they called the camp & discussed the situation in detail.  The owners of the camp had completely & thoroughly sanitized the entire facility.  They had called the health department & CDC who got involved & obviously felt no reason to shut down the camp or have us stay home.  Our staff talked with a physician who said the virus can't live long enough to infect anyone we take given the time the previous group left the camp.  We took enough hand sanitizer to float a battle ship &, like every year, we have health care professionals on site.  We're not reactive; we're proactive. 

By the way, several of our staff had absolutely no problem sending their kids to camp based on the due diligence & information we had, including myself.  I have two boys there this week, one as a leader & one as a participant. 

Yet, we get a call this morning from a local news channel inquiring about our kid going to camp where the group before us sent some kids home with the flu.  The news cycle must really be slow this week.  We didn't feel any more of a threat sending our kids to camp than we do sending them to the YMCA or the movies.  Do you really think all the people who make your Big Mac's & eat at the tables you lay your food on in crowded restaurants are healthy?  What about the hundreds of people on airplanes that breath the same air for hours?  I guess we should just quit work & lock our doors & live in paranoia of the pig. 

There have been some really bad wrecks on interstate 24 that have left countless more people hurt or worse.  So, should we let our kid get on a bus & travel on a road that has been so dangerous?  The camp is in the woods & there are snakes & ticks that carry Lime's Diseases in the woods...  It's hot & a lot of people have heat strokes every year...  They have a blob on the lake.  Do you know how many people drown each year...  Do we really want to live in that kind of paranoia of every new thing that pops up?   

Come on, no one would give this a second thought if it was the "common" flu.  Oh, wait, I forgot, there is no such thing as the "common" flu.  The flu virus changes every year.  That's why people get a new flu shot every year.  But, what about all the people who've died from the swine flu.  To my knowledge, the swine flu is no more deadly than any other flu...it just got more press causing paranoia of the pig. 

My boys may come home with the flu.  But, last time I checked, that's a possibility when they come home from school, the movies, the YMCA, their friends house...  If they do come home sick, I'll take them to the doctor just like I do every other time they're sick.  So, rather than worry about what might happen, I'm going to pray that they have an incredible week & that God does amazing things in their life.

Some may ask why we didn't inform the parents of the pig paranoia.  I asked our staff the same question & was totally satisfied with their answer.  After the processing all the info & facts, they felt it was a non-issue.  I mean, the health department shuts down a swimming pool if they find a Baby Ruth in the water.  Do you really think they would've let us go to camp if they thought there was the slightest possibility of one of our kids getting infected by a virus left behind from the previous week?  That's not to say someone won't come home sick, but if they do, it won't be because they picked up the virus at camp; it'll be because the flu season is extended this year & one of our hundreds of kids carried the bug to camp...just like what happened with the group last week.  

So, parents, don't worry about your kids getting infected with the flu.  I can't promise you they won't get infected, but I can promise you that our staff has done their due diligence & didn't allow your kids to carelessly go to camp.  We have health care professionals on site, just like every year, and we'll inform you & get your kids home if there is any question that they may be sick.  So, rather than worrying about them getting infected with the flu, pray that they get so infected with Jesus that He is contagious to everyone they come in contact with when they get home.           

Comments

[janen]

Tell it like it T-I-S brother-man! lol Seriously, this makes perfect sense.

[Jennifer Kinsey]

Thank you for never being afraid to say what needs to be said. Awesome!

[Amy M.]

If there was a "like" button on your blog like there is on facebook, I would push it! Thanks for talking sense, Pat!

Amy M. :)

[Carrie G]

Well put!! Amen, bro.