Why Rob Gronkowski is reuniting with Tom Brady: Two ways to redeem the pandemic

Rob Gronkowski made headlines this week with the announcement that he is reuniting with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay.

The tight end, often considered the best in history at his position, retired a year ago from the New England Patriots. He explains that his body was in great need of a year off to rest and recover. And he seems to be excited about playing away from the dictatorial accountability for which Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is famous.

Gronkowski did not need a pandemic to force him to take time
off. But his story reminds us that finding ways to rest and recover in a fallen
world is valuable for more people than professional football players.

Many forced to stay home are using the time to watch
television, a fact demonstrated by Netflix’s announcement that it added 15.8
million subscribers in the first quarter of the year. Others are finding
innovative ways to do what they do best, as shown by John Krasinski’s hit
YouTube series, Some Good News.

Two ways to redeem the pandemic

Christians can learn from both strategies.

We were made to need rhythms of work and rest, as our Lord
showed us when he instituted the Sabbath. (It is interesting that this
commandment receives more words of explanation than any of the other Ten
Commandments; cf. Exodus 20:8–11). Jesus told his disciples during a busy season
of ministry, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a
while” (Mark 6:31).

To use social distancing for spiritual growth, we need a
strategy: a regular appointment with God and a plan to read his word, pray,
worship, and practice other spiritual disciplines. Our Father will lead you
into greater communion with him if you will follow.

And we should be finding ways to minister during the
pandemic that we could not before it began. This…