Right now we are all on the front lines of a war. Who was it who said that, "war is hell?" If you have read your bible you know exactly what that means. We were all living a very different life a very short time ago before events dramatically changed everything.
We were working, playing, and learning. We were going on vacations, business trips or getting ready for a wedding. Some women just received news of a miracle pregnancy, others just began their hospital treatment regime. What about all the businesses that just opened only to immediately close? The answer is that all of our lives have been interrupted.
People all over the world are gripped by fear and anxiety as they mull over the mind-numbing and heart stopping information on screens every second of every day about the COVID-19 virus. So much of the information seems confusing and conflicting. Most people I know don't know what to think.
There is a lot of insecurity now. What will be the financial outcome for my family, country and the world? Will we survive this or could we catch it and succumb to the disease? I met my husband while we both resided in New York City. We met through a mutual friend, named Sal*. Sal owns and manages an apartment building on the upper east side of Manhattan.
This used to be one of the most beautiful and desirable addresses in New York City. Not anymore. Not since NYC has become one of the epicenters of the Wuhan virus in the United States. In fact, since my last blog post, New York State has been declared a disaster area. This official designation allows for certain emergency help and monies to be released to the area.
Hospitals are being built in convention centers and other large venues to cope with the overflow of patients that officials expect will exponentially grow and fill them. Auto factories, and breweries are being converted into ventilator and hand sanitizer manufacturers. This sounds like I am right in the middle of World War II or the plague.
Sal asked me what I thought his chances of survival would be if he contracted the virus. That is heartbreaking to contemplate. I am praying everyday that nothing happens to him, my family or my church. I pray for my friends who have risk factors for catching the virus and I pray for all my readers.
What are we to do with all this as we deal day in and day out with this adversity? The answer is we were created for such a time as this. This is real life and our turn to shine. It is not a time to grab all the meat so that no one in line behind you can get any. It is not a time to run away from New York with no concern for anyone you might infect in the next state should you have the virus.
Now that we can't go to the shopping mall or eat at a restaurant, is it our time to contemplate the deeper meaning of life? Who are we, and why are we here? Is it just to serve our own selfish needs? Is there a God who created us and has imbued us with eternity and the desire to know Him?
If that is the case don't we have anything better to do than shake our asses, do drugs and listen to music which glorifies evil on a beach during our college spring break? What about binge watching Netflix? Should you really continue treating your parents badly, when you realize their lives may end suddenly? Doesn't it seem petty to be fighting and acting out with those that you are housebound with?
What should we do instead? Rise to meet the challenge. Call people and help them through this. Don't watch social media and news reports about this all day long. Get a morning and an evening update instead. Try to stay in as much as possible, use what supplies that you have in the cupboards and refrigerator before you go shopping. No sense increasing your chance of getting the virus since people are the main vector. You might realize you don't need to shop so much and you can be content with a little less than you thought you could.
Let go of things that you have no control over. Don't be so angry at the way things are being handled, do we really think we could do better than the officials managing the situation? Most of us harbor anger against something being done or not done in our community to combat the virus? Let us contemplate for a moment that there can be no perfect way of dealing with a killer virus. It will reek sickness, death, and financial destruction. What we are really angry at is, the truth about life. King Solomon describes the seasons of life very well in the Book of Ecclesiastes. There are times of joy and sorrow, life and death. We must accept that and make our peace with it.
Forgive people that you have been holding a grudge against, and read your bible. Pray too. This will be the fuel you need to see past and through the events unfolding. As you work through some of your thoughts and feelings and turn to God's comfort in the situation, you will fine yourself trying to work with the situation the best that you can.
I went out in my spring garden and gathered some fallen branches. They are all over the ground after the winter season. I fashioned a cross and used some twine to secure it in the middle. I then stuck some plastic flowers into the twine and I thought about the upcoming feast of the Resurrection.
* the name was changed to protect privacy.
Thursday, March 26, 2020
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
It's Here !
Psalm 57:1- “Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me. For my soul takes refuge in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I take refuge until destruction passes by.”
After my last blog post entitled THE VIRUS (January 31), there has been an exceleration of the worldwide transmission of THE VIRUS and, with that a myriad of consequences. The virus has been responsible for untold illness, pain, fear, brutality, death and economic turmoil.
Now, the coronavirus that just came out of Wuhan, China (also known as COVID-19) has arrived in Westchester County, New York. I knew it would arrive here sooner rather than later. Why? Because Westchester County is home to major movers and shakers. It is not uncommon for me to go to a local coffee shop and run into someone trying to coffee up after a quick trip to China for a business meeting.
China for a New Years' celebration? Sure! Should we go to Italy to enjoy a Carnival season and parade? Of course. Cruises here and cruises there. Cruises everywhere. These are the perks of having money. For many in Westchester County, the world is their oyster.
On any given day, Many are traveling to or from Westchester County from any number of exotic locations for business or pleasure (preferably both). People brag forever about that time they ate blowfish, or about sharing fried locusts while finalizing a business deal. Crunchy I hear, like Rice Krispies.
When you have people in your County all over the globe it is easy to see how this could be a conduit for bringing in any sort of contagion that is going around be it COVID-19, Ebola or anything else that you can think of. Add in taking a plane, after you are infected, and that further spreads the pathogens in the community.
Now all around me, I see the look of panic on people's faces and hear it in their voices. For people who are used to being in control, this is a nightmare. There are schools closing for deep cleaning because a parent was working at a hospital that received a patient who later turned out to test positive for COVID-19. There is a girl who attended a social event where a boy later received confirmation that he had THE VIRUS.
A middle school teacher tested positive for COVID-19 in Scarsdale and now all of the Scarsdale public schoolbs will be closed for two weeks to prevent the further spread of this virus. Deep cleansing in Mount Vernon schools and libraries have been executed. Many other schools and libraries in the vicinity are taking the same step as a precautionary measure. The Governor of New York has even locked down a one-mile square hot-zone in the city of New Rochelle, which is Westchesters' epicenter for corona. He has sent the national guard to assist in that situation. They will disenfect public spaces and deliver food to quarantined individuals.
Are you experiencing any of this where you live yet? It all seems surreal to me. Does it to you? Going to a supermarket for my normal bi-weekly shopping trips are anything but normal now. I drive to stores crowded with people and I can't even get my usual brands of toilet paper or disinfectant because people are panic buying. I know that I am blessed to get any at all and am grateful for that.
I must admit that this is all getting to me! That is until I went to church this past Sunday. I found myself in a sea of calm. People who were not panicking. People who were carrying on normal conversations. My favorite is the people in their 80's who are living life to the fullest. They are singing in the choir, ushering, and still playing tennis and taking exercise classes.
I must admit I don't have the quiet resilience that these folks have. I pray many times throughout the day for strength and calm. I am holding onto lifesaving scripture chapters and verses. For example, Exodus 12:13 which speaks of God's protection and the covering that the blood of the Lamb affords. I have placed this message on a chalk board in my dining room. I have also bookmarked Psalm 91 on my i-Phone so these words of God are always close-by. This chapter is a constant source of help to me. It quickly puts me back to where I should be and the mindset that I should have.
Exodus 12:13
And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
After my last blog post entitled THE VIRUS (January 31), there has been an exceleration of the worldwide transmission of THE VIRUS and, with that a myriad of consequences. The virus has been responsible for untold illness, pain, fear, brutality, death and economic turmoil.
Now, the coronavirus that just came out of Wuhan, China (also known as COVID-19) has arrived in Westchester County, New York. I knew it would arrive here sooner rather than later. Why? Because Westchester County is home to major movers and shakers. It is not uncommon for me to go to a local coffee shop and run into someone trying to coffee up after a quick trip to China for a business meeting.
China for a New Years' celebration? Sure! Should we go to Italy to enjoy a Carnival season and parade? Of course. Cruises here and cruises there. Cruises everywhere. These are the perks of having money. For many in Westchester County, the world is their oyster.
On any given day, Many are traveling to or from Westchester County from any number of exotic locations for business or pleasure (preferably both). People brag forever about that time they ate blowfish, or about sharing fried locusts while finalizing a business deal. Crunchy I hear, like Rice Krispies.
When you have people in your County all over the globe it is easy to see how this could be a conduit for bringing in any sort of contagion that is going around be it COVID-19, Ebola or anything else that you can think of. Add in taking a plane, after you are infected, and that further spreads the pathogens in the community.
Now all around me, I see the look of panic on people's faces and hear it in their voices. For people who are used to being in control, this is a nightmare. There are schools closing for deep cleaning because a parent was working at a hospital that received a patient who later turned out to test positive for COVID-19. There is a girl who attended a social event where a boy later received confirmation that he had THE VIRUS.
A middle school teacher tested positive for COVID-19 in Scarsdale and now all of the Scarsdale public schoolbs will be closed for two weeks to prevent the further spread of this virus. Deep cleansing in Mount Vernon schools and libraries have been executed. Many other schools and libraries in the vicinity are taking the same step as a precautionary measure. The Governor of New York has even locked down a one-mile square hot-zone in the city of New Rochelle, which is Westchesters' epicenter for corona. He has sent the national guard to assist in that situation. They will disenfect public spaces and deliver food to quarantined individuals.
Are you experiencing any of this where you live yet? It all seems surreal to me. Does it to you? Going to a supermarket for my normal bi-weekly shopping trips are anything but normal now. I drive to stores crowded with people and I can't even get my usual brands of toilet paper or disinfectant because people are panic buying. I know that I am blessed to get any at all and am grateful for that.
I must admit that this is all getting to me! That is until I went to church this past Sunday. I found myself in a sea of calm. People who were not panicking. People who were carrying on normal conversations. My favorite is the people in their 80's who are living life to the fullest. They are singing in the choir, ushering, and still playing tennis and taking exercise classes.
I must admit I don't have the quiet resilience that these folks have. I pray many times throughout the day for strength and calm. I am holding onto lifesaving scripture chapters and verses. For example, Exodus 12:13 which speaks of God's protection and the covering that the blood of the Lamb affords. I have placed this message on a chalk board in my dining room. I have also bookmarked Psalm 91 on my i-Phone so these words of God are always close-by. This chapter is a constant source of help to me. It quickly puts me back to where I should be and the mindset that I should have.
Exodus 12:13
And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
Psalm 91- 1-16
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.
Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.
He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
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