This morning I am thinking about timing. I wonder how I would be handling this Stay Home, Stay Healthy state-wide mandate if it happened in any other decade. I can imagine each decade in my timeline offering a different challenge and benefit to withstanding a pandemic. My finances have the character of the Wheel of Fortune- rotating around, up and down, ebb and flow. However, is there ever a good time for a pandemic?
Thinking about the calendar, happy Palm Sunday for those that observe. Many Christians in my state find it interesting that the mandate started during Lent. Lent is traditionally 40 days long, in commemoration of the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert, before beginning his public ministry, during which he endured temptation by Satan. The time in the desert prepared Christ for the cross. Modern followers look inward and prepare their hearts for the coming Christ, on Resurrection Day (Easter). What a great metaphor for our current situation!
Wondering how THINGS will change on May 5th, when the mandate is over. A better question is how will PEOPLE to change. How? I do not know. Will folks be more aware, more calm, centered and stronger. Hoping I will be. Perhaps, for some, who the pandemic is testing their character and resourcefulness, maybe, in June, when the relief checks show up and the cupboards are full again, perhaps then, they will have the time to look back on April and realize they walked through fire and lived.
One thing is for sure, this is the truth, NONE of us will be the same after this.
1) an observed joy- The food bank in my town is delivering boxes of food to folks in need!
2) a real concern- Watching the national news the other day, they headlined with “A worldwide record. America has the most with the coronavirus!” Selling fear is not helpful. This is NOT the number of folks dead like they made it sound. We are testing MORE people than in other countries at this time.
3) a personal challenge- Finding reliable information for local and statewide is a challenge. My confidence in our nation’s leaders is almost non-existence. I do not like the way they are handling the pandemic.
4) one personal success (no matter how small)- I am still writing my journal.
5) a random thought (no matter how silly)- Always in motion, we are. I stayed inside all day yesterday. I haven’t done that since October 2018 when I was recovering from a car accident.
Worldwide, as of this post: 1.26 million tested positive (reported),
68,935 are deceased.
Coronavirus Dashboard
shannon p. laws 