Time wasters are a pet peeve of mine.
Today’s adventure to town – my first time leaving the house in three days – turned out to be a fruitless mission. Apparently store policy varies depending on who is working. Why did I bother calling ahead again? Peace and love, friends. I understand this a challenging time and a challenging environment. I do. But I’ll go somewhere I trust has it more together tomorrow.
Also I’ve noted that my most uttered phrase of 2020 thus far is … “This is such a weird time.”
Sigh.
A week ago the CDC began recommending everyone wear a cloth mask over their nose and mouth when out in public. In situations where it may be difficult to stay at least six feet apart – say inside a grocery store – the mask will reduce the chances of the wearer spreading coronavirus to others. A simple cloth mask (as opposed to higher grade masks we need to reserve for healthcare workers) provides minimal protection for the wearer. Since one can be asymptomatic but still contagious, though … you can do your part to protect others. A friend referred to the situation as a classic “love thy neighbor” scenario. They also noted one may be less likely to touch their face when wearing a mask – another important hygiene practice.
The CDC and many public department of health web sites have instructions on how to make cloth masks. (There are Facebook and YouTube videos as well.) It can be as simple as folding a bandana and using hair ties or rubber bands to anchor it around your ears. A t-shirt or scarf will even do in a pinch.
I’ve seen a disconcertingly large number of people on social media making fun of those who choose to wear masks and/or rubber gloves while running their essential errands. Indeed, it is difficult at best even for those who know what they’re doing to avoid cross-contaminating something with gloved hands. I could go on and on about proper procedures for removing gloves and masks and sanitizing everything, but I’m tired and bored of the subject.
The moral of the story is stay home as much as possible. When not possible, be a good human and do whatever you can not to spread the virus to others.
A friend posted a great phrase this week … “I’m a Christian, but I wear my seatbelt.” Why do you wear a seatbelt? Hopefully it’s not just because the law requires it. Science says seatbelt wearing results in fewer deaths and severe injuries.
I’ve seen views across the spectrum from thoughtfully questioning (awesome!) to the truly tinfoil hat wearing theories. Many people are just sure they’ve had coronavirus already, as far back as November, implying (or blatantly stating) that because they recovered it’s no big deal. Maybe they did have the virus. But we don’t know how much immunity for how long that might provide. Tests are being developed. We’ll get there. Be patient, stay home when possible, and when not possible … wear a danged mask.
Also your anecdotal evidence doesn’t equal scientific data.
Also choosing to be a good human by wearing a mask … and maybe gaining some protection by wearing gloves … does not equate to cowering in fear or being, as some of you so eloquently put it, a sheeple. Please get over yourself, be kind, and just shut up.
Some suggest we just need to have faith and know where we’re going when we die. Again, I’m a Christian but I wear my seatbelt. Perhaps you’re familiar with the story of the flood victim waiting on the roof of their house for God to send a helicopter to rescue them. While the water continues to rise, they turn down the neighbor in a rowboat who offers them a ride to safety … “No thank you, God’s going to send a helicopter.” When someone from the fire department comes by in a raft, they respond the same … “No thank you, God’s going to send a helicopter.” After being swept away in the flood, at the pearly gates they ask why God didn’t send a helicopter to rescue them. “Well, you turned down the rowboat and the raft I sent …”
Be a good human. Stay home when possible. When not possible, wear your seatbelt and a danged mask.
So Easter. It’s coming up this Sunday. Much like the Christmas season, this is a time that causes many to think more about their faith. Many of us now will be participating in online church. (Please don’t go to a mass gathering of people. Just don’t.)
Communion is an important part of many church services. Some traditions share in it every week, others at certain intervals. The transition to joining in virtually has led to a variety of options for communion at home. Some churches are providing sealed communion kits available for contact-free pickup, but you can make communion out of whatever you have around. A bread product and a juice product. Cheez-its and Juicy Juice. Ritz and a Pepsi. Home baked bread and wine if you’re into wine. The most unique and memorable communion I’ve ever had was after the great Ice Storm of Christmas Eve 2004. Multiday power outages were widespread throughout our area, canceling Sunday services at our church. A small portion of the Glory Sunday School class got together at a friend’s house that day. Communion consisted of broken up saltines and small Dixie cups of prune juice. Saltines and prune juice. It’s what they had in the house. Necessity is the mother of invention.
If you want to make your own unleavened bread, here’s a recipe you can whip up from ingredients you may already have on hand. If you need gluten free or food allergy friendly communion wafers consider ordering them here.
Other resources of note this week …
Mike Morell shared a post on praying the breastplate of St. Patrick. I thought it was really beautiful.
Fil Anderson has been praying Psalm 91 for 90 days. I’m kind of sort of keeping up.
I finally watched this video of my buddy David speaking at a recent fundraiser where he was opening for William Paul Young, author of The Shack. It’s about forty minutes of David and the rest panel discussion including him, Paul, and others.
Online church Easter Sunday. I’ll be tuning in to my local service that morning at 9am eastern. We’re still doing Ragamuffin Sunday at 4pm eastern, including online chat.
My Good Friday tradition is listening to Glenn Beck’s telling of that day’s events set to Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. Ignore any feelings you have about who the storyteller is, as it’s a nonpolitical tale. The joy of Sunday’s resurrection can overshadow (which to a large extent it should) what happened on Friday, and I find this little work of art helps drive home the darkness of that day. May we never take any of it for granted.
Happy Resurrection Weekend. Stay home. When you can’t stay home, wear a danged mask in public. It’s the latest Easter tradition.
I think if you are a Christian, you should wear your seatbelt if you want to take the admonitions of Romans 8 seriously. Just like you should drive the speed limit or under and pay your taxes done correctly and in full. So whether you do it as an obedience to the commands of God or as an obedience to the laws of physics, Christians should wear seatbelts.
Yes! Love it.