Fear of Ebola

Dr. Kent Brantly has Ebola virus.  He is in Liberia and a decision has been made to fly him and another American to Atlanta, Georgia.  Obviously, the decision to fly was based on the fact that he currently is in an undermanned, underequipped hospital in West Africa and would be coming to a University facility where proper care can be given to give him the best chance of survival.

The odd thing is that upon receiving word that Kent was bringing this deadly virus to the United States, the internet became alive with commenters who were upset at the danger of such a flight and of his presence in their previously safe country.  They very strongly hold the opinion that it isn't safe or wise to allow him to bring this virus so close to home.

As far as I can tell, these comments are mainly motivated by fear.  People are afraid of this dangerous an epidemic sweeping across North America.

It is understandable too.  Every story I have read quotes the mortality figures for Ebola as having "up to ninety percent fatality," even though it has been quite a bit less than this with the current out break. 

Ebola isn't terribly contagious.  The biggest out breaks in the past, while deadly, have only killed a few hundred people, even though they take place in highly populated areas of Africa that have few facilities for dealing with such a virus.  There is reason for fear, but there is more reason for hope.

In addition, Dr. Brantly will be flying in a carefully controlled environment with numerous precautions in place to keep the virus from spreading.  He will be cared for, when he arrives at Emory University, in a facility well able to take care of him without transmission of the virus.

Most of all, I think about the reasons it is that we are flying him home for better care.  It is for compassion.  It is for healing.  It is for love.

Love and fear cannot coexist.  In the book of First John, it says "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear..."  Kent Brantly went into a dangerous situation because of love -- love that was greater than his fear.

I would pray that he would be healed.  More than that, I would pray that Americans (and others around the world) would lay down their fear and love as Christ loved.  For only in that perfect love can we live without fear.