Blog Post

The Times We Live In

In March I opted not to write about the challenge facing our nation, and the globe

But at this point that is like having a blazing inferno on the next block and ignoring it.

  There is nothing upbeat about Covid 19, the coronavirus. It is deadly and unpredicable, defying the efforts of the experts to quickly contain it or find quick solutions to overcome it. For many of us it is now the biggest crisis on a larger scale we've had to face in our lifetime. 

  Most or all of you reading this have not been direct victims of the virus itself. Some of you are in high risk situations, dealing with the public every day when distancing ourselves seems to be the most effective way of protection. I applaud and encourage all of you who are risking your own health to help others, or to bring home a paycheck because your other family members are now out of work. There are three of my own family members who fit into this category. Some of these have alienated themselves from their families to keep them safer, working exhausting hours and coming home to simply eat, sleep, and do it all over again.

  Truckers are working long hours to keep everyone supplied with necessities, and more.

  None of us have escaped the effects of this national, indeed global, crisis.  Even if you live in an area of the country where there have been few if any cases diagnosed, you are living with the mandates to hopefully keep it that way.  

  Can we be upbeat? I say yes we can, and we should. Are any of you hungry? (Okay, I'll say it; maybe you had to scrounge for a roll of toilet paper or hand wipes at some point. Please say you did Not call 9-1-1). Did you sleep comfortably in your own bed last night, communicate with family and friends? There's so much to be grateful for.  

  And we have opportunities on the secondary front to encourage and help others. Some people are genuinely terrified; be sensitive to that. Call anyone you know who may be frail, in poor health, or very elderly, who shouldn't even be out to get their own groceries, and offer to do it for them.

  Call anyone you know who is in quarantine and would love the contact of a friendly conversation, get in touch with your family members to let them know you are thinking about them, and to tell them you are safe. 

  If you find yourself in a state of increased anxiety - maybe the number of confirmed cases where you live is increasing - call someone to share that with who will help you overcome it.

  I'm reading about examples of wonderful American ingenuity, such as sewing masks to donate to health centers to help fill in shortages. We can keep tuned in via our social networks, etc., to find out other ways to serve our neighbors and our communities.

  Personally it makes me proud to be part of the huge network of individuals who are spiritual and figuratively on their knees before God interceding in countless ways, including for those in positions of leadership who need his divine wisdom in a situation they never dreamed would exist.

  And if you would like to be reminded of how bad it could be, pull up a good documentary of the influenza epidemic of 1918, commonly known as the Spanish flu. Don't let it put you in fear, because the statistics show how we're able to deal with this now is indicating a much better outcome.

We can find strength and resources within ourselves we never had to use before, and we may need it for some time to come.