It was a normal Thursday at school, March 12th, 2020. News of the coronavirus had found its way to us, but at that point it certainly didn’t seem to be much of a threat. How quickly that all changed over the weekend. That Thursday was the last day of in-person school for the year. And little did we realize how long it would have its grip on us all, even to this day and perhaps more so now as ever before.
At first, the virus was something that only people in Asia and Europe were having to deal with. Yes, it was deadly, but it was “over there.” Then the first reports came in from New York and other northern states. But once again, it was something “over there” that we didn’t really need to worry.
And here we are, nearly ten months later and it’s numbers have reached exponential proportions. It’s no longer a disease that “other people” are dealing with….it’s people I know, including members of my own family. No longer are those dying from the scourge “other people”….they’re people that I know personally. It really begins to strike home when you see friends who die from the virus.
Fear has been increasing as the virus’ life continues to wield its power over us all. A level of fear unlike any I’ve experienced before. There’s no running from it, for it can’t be seen. And yet, the invisible virus has us all wrapped up in fear that we or our family members might be next on the list.
I am in recovery and am glad to have some tools to work with during it all. They are truly being put to the test, as are we all. I recently picked the word “Faith” as my word for 2021 and it really is being put to the test. I know there’s very little I have any control over with the virus and life in general. But there are those things I can do to keep from getting infected and to keep those I love from harm’s way. And yes, that means I have had to physically separate myself from them. I also realize that may be the one thing that keeps them from contracting the disease. I’m more worried about passing it along to someone else than I am contracting it myself. Such is the way my mind works.
So these are my thoughts…they may be a bit scattered and random, but then so does most of the world we are living with this day.
May we all be reminded of God’s presence in our lives, for He is the Good Shepherd and if we have faith in Him, we shall not be in want, whether or not we understand that at the time and regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in.
Stay safe and keep the faith, trust the journey.
David Lee
David Lee 