Today marks 50-days of alone time for me resulting from the COVID-19 invasion. It is impossible to put into words how it feels to be in the midst of a global pandemic, solitary in a city that I’m just learning to call home. Often I joke with people closest to me that this is what most introverts like me would easily describe as paradise, under “normal” circumstances. Earning a wage while working from home is a blessing. My daily commute is now reduced to walking ten feet from my bedroom to the dining room. I should welcome this change and under “normal” conditions I would. However, we are in unchartered waters as citizens of the 21st century, this period in our lives is far from “normal”. It is unprecedented and requires unflinching collaboration, globally and nationally.
We exist under the leadership of an executive branch of government which values the dollar more than the citizenry it serves. We the people, woven together, comprise the most colorful and intricate tapestry of beings on earth. We are invaluable yet invisible to many elected officials, whose messages (particularly those from the White House) require distillation and decoding on a daily basis. I just have to ask, was he being sarcastic or serious when he thought out loud that a disinfectant or light inside the body might be the answer? It’s exasperating when emphasis is placed on getting back to “normal” economically. I watch the news in dismay as politicians who have galvanized our country,- dividing us into “red or blue states”, “haves or have nots”, “immigrants or citizens”- speak about getting our economy open as soon as possible. As I write these thoughts, more than 200,000 global citizens (greater than 52,000 in the United States alone) have lost their fight to this invisible (to the eye) enemy. Yet the wheels of commerce continue to grind and command more attention than the significant lives lost. Why is sarcasm first and foremost in the mind of our 45th president? I wonder when he lies in bed at night, does he think about families who are burying loved ones virtually because it is not safe to gather and mourn together? I pray he does in his alone time, I do.
Alone for the last 1,200 hours, I have cogitated on the illogical versus logical headlines online and in the broadcast news, desperately grasping for something to help me make sense of this loss and suffering. But honestly, how can I make sense of church leaders putting parishioners in harms way by continuing to gather in close quarters? How on earth can Governor Brian Kemp of Georgia rationalize that it’s in the best interest of his constituency to go back to business as normal, when the virus is still thriving, with hot spots still erupting throughout the world? Our loved ones are on the front lines fighting this war, some losing their lives to the same invader they are helping patients battle. Why open now?
In my alone time, I think about each Governor with the weight of this pandemic on their shoulders. We place in them the hope that logical thinking prevails (Georgia notwithstanding). Shout outs and thank you for the eloquent and informative COVID-19 updates Governor Andrew Cuomo! Optimism, that is what I feel after I hear him speak. Winning this war seems achievable with concerted effort. He gives me hope that people are not blind to the fact our neighbors are hungry. As an example, record breaking crowds gathered on April 11th at a San Antonio food bank, exceeding the 6,000 families expected by thousands that day. We must provide shelter to those who have been displaced (yes, evictions are occurring and expected to surge into the millions).
Interesting fact, according to Forbes magazine, we are a nation in which 400 people held a combined net worth of $2.9 trillion in 2019. Is it logical, given that number, so many are hungry and displaced in our country? Where are each of you in this battle? I give credit to those who have stepped up. But wonder why many have remained silent and blind to the needs of their neighbors. This fight is real folks, standing arm-and-arm (virtually at least) in solidarity is how we will win this war.
We are in crisis! We are mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, cousins, living from one hour to another exhausting our energy fighting this adversary. Lift one another up as we seek health and safety. Remember, we are caregivers for one another. Wear a mask, respect social distancing mandates. Hold your state Governor accountable to act in your best interest. Monies earmarked for those suffering must be securely and equitably dispatched to people with a genuine need. Be alert for fraud schemes. Speak up people! Even in our alone time, we still have voice. Insist on responsibly reopening our country. Even more important, exercise healthy skepticism when you listen to daily debriefs by any leader.
When I wake each morning, I am hopeful that earth will heal itself and this pandemic will cease, if we are vigilant! During your alone time, take a moment to honor others in a manner that resonates with you. Pray, meditate, think positive thoughts. Cultivate hope in these unprecedented weary times that we will be healed and that we learn the lessons being taught, lest we rinse and repeat.