Alvin M. Keeling 
For 10 days I have been isolated in my room during quarantine. This is the first time that I have COVID-19[feminine], so quarantine was a new experience for me. My heart sank when I first tested positive because it meant I had to miss preaching at lead the cause, Dare 2 ShareThe annual evangelism training boot camp for student leaders held last week in Denver. I also had to cancel a trip to meet friends in Minnesota this weekend. But I decided on the first day of isolation to make the most of my quarantine time.
First, a qualifier: I didn’t have a debilitating version of Covid. My symptoms sounded more like a bad cold than a bad flu. So not all of my lessons will apply to everyone. That said, here are 10 things I learned during my Covid quarantine:
1. There’s a lot you can do in a small space if you’re intentional.
During my first full day of quarantine, I organized my bedroom into four distinct sections: a work space, a sleep space, a workout space, and a stimulation space. In the corner of our bedroom is an old upholstered rocking chair that has become my workspace. My daughter brought me some weights and bands (and left them at the door), so I could exercise in a corner of our room (which I did every day: chest/triceps one day back/biceps the next day). Obviously, I have my bed for sleeping, as well as for watching television. And, finally, there’s about a narrow space about 15 feet long between my bedroom wall and our bathroom where I can walk, which I do for hours (?) every day while talking to the telephone.
I’m so glad I took the time to create these four spaces on the first day of my quarantine. It gave me a semblance of organization and normalcy.
2. Life goes on without you.
Thank God for the powerful team of Dare 2 Share and the two best young lecturers in the country, Zane Black and Jerrod Gunter. We’ve been training together at Lead the Cause for years. During a normal week, we split speaking sessions so teens get new ideas through a rotation of three speakers. But since I was sick, Zane and Jerrod had to take care of all the morning and evening generals and sessions. They did it so well that the impact of the week was stronger than ever. Jason Lamb, Ben Phillips, Megan Mashekand the rest of Dare 2 Share crew played a crucial role in making this last week work “without Greg”.
For me, it was a test, and our team passed it with flying colors. If the founder of the ministry has to be there for it to work, the founder hasn’t done his job well. Our team improvised, adapted and overcame, and God did mighty work as a result.
My prayer for Dare 2 Share is not just that it thrives, but that it continues to thrive long after I’m gone.
So far, so good.
3. Prisoners have a lot more trouble than that.
I couldn’t stop thinking about reality prisoners during this time. I jokingly called my lovely wife “the guardian” because she knocks on my door three times, three times a day with food. All we need is a slot in the door to complete my prison room.
But, throughout this week, I have seriously begun to reflect on the plight of the prisoners who are isolated every day. There is no escape from their cell. Sure, they might have yard time or exercise time or food time outside of their cells, but they’re permanently locked up for months, years, or life, depending on their crimes and their sorrows.
Regardless of what they have done or what they deserve, it made me think of Jesus’ words in Luke 4:18: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He chose me to announce the good news to the poor. He sent me to tell the prisoners that they are free and to tell the blind that they can see again. He sent me to free those who were mistreated.”
The Gospel of Jesus must be preached to prisoners. They need the hope of true escape from the bondage of sin and the bars of despair.
