HELPING THE BREATH MINT INDUSTRY

We cannot begin to comprehend the severity and extent of the effects and consequences of the Great 2020-2021 COVID Lockdown/Shutdown. There are effects directly caused by the Shutdown that we would never think of. I was impressed by one of these when this week I read an article about Listerine. Now, this causality of the Shutdown on the surface is seemingly so trivial and inconsequential that I do not, by mentioning it, desire to in any way detract from or minimize the awful consequences such as deep depression, suicide, loss of employment, etc. But here it is: The sale of breath mints and breath strips and mouthwashes was down 40% during the Shutdown in one major company and 20% overall across all companies in the industry. That is huge—if you’re in or have an investment in that industry. Who would have thought of that? COVID hurt breath mint sales! Not coming together in close clusters with other people (and wearing facemasks too) meant not having to worry about halitotic breath. Not worried about bad breath means buying fewer breath mints. Of course, being a pastor, I always think of things in terms of the Church. During the Shutdown, the Church was often prohibited from gathering because of enforced directives and serious outbreaks. Also, some folks were reticent about gathering even if the doors were unlocked. That people did not gather together to pray, worship, hear the Word, and have fellowship, had to have had great consequential effects on them—all of which we are yet to discover and realize. I’m thankful for the role of Livestream during shutdown. It was a vital venue and connective link. Yet, I don’t believe anyone settled into his Lay-z-boy, cued the stream for his church’s service on his device, and then, just before the stream went live, grabbed a breath mint and inserted it in his mouth. Simple, I know, but you don’t need breath mints to watch a Livestream. Point is, there are other things, vital things, one needs, participates in, experiences, etc., in a live gathering that he never will over the Livestream. Of course, I am not dissing Livestream, nor those who have it as their only option. I am merely pointing out that there are extensive, wide-ranging effects, some we never have yet imagined, to one’s not gathering together with others in worship. No social gathering means fewer breath mints sales which means more stinky breath. Less involvement in worship means less_______________ which means more ________________. Whatever it is that fills that last blank, it is a negative for our life. I suppose that, if our bodies can have halitosis, so can our souls. But see, bad breath doesn’t matter much if you’re not around people. Likewise, there are many things that seem to stop mattering so much when you’re not coming to church. Things worse than bad breath. One thing is for sure, folks didn’t stop popping breath mints into their mouths because their breath had gotten better during the Shutdown. No. Their breath was as bad or worse--some gave up even brushing their teeth too. There just wasn’t someone around to point out to them that their breath stank. In life, there are those rude enough or kind enough to inform you when your breath stinks. A grandchild, when young, is unhampered in letting you know, “Grandpa, your breath stinks.” Spiritually speaking, whether we find it pleasant or not, in a gathering of the church, the Holy Spirit during worship, a brother or sister with loving concern, the minister by preaching the Word, someone, will tell us if our soul stinks. Hearing that, we know it’s time to pop in and suck on a spiritual breath mint. It’s time to pray. It’s time to repent. It’s time to pour out the abscesses of hurt, bitterness, etc., in our soul. Some have yet to make it back to their places of worship after the reopening of society. I would encourage you; get your vaccine (if you are so inclined), buy some breath mints, and come on back to the assembling of the fresh-breathed. Heart-rendered collective worship emits, even to God, a sweet-smelling scent. Who knew just how much coming to church helped us—and the breath mint industry?