Solidarity: #FlattenTheCurve
These are crazy times we live in. We’re only three months into 2020 and already so much tragedy has happened: (1) Australia fires, (2) Kobe Bryant, Gigi Bryant, and the others lost in the helicopter crash, and now (3) COVID-19 global pandemic. Suffice to say, the new decade is coming in way too hot for us to handle. I admit, there are days when anxiety gets the best of me when I think about the condition of our world, but I have to hold fast to God who is the Author and Finisher of my faith.
This is unlike my other blog posts, but I want to take this time to use this platform God has so graciously given to me to address something that’s been weighing heavy on my heart; while this might seem like a rant, my hope is that it challenges every single one of us to really look at the impact of our decisions. I’m not here to talk about numbers or statistics, I’ll leave that to the professionals. If you’d like more reliable information on what’s going on with the coronavirus outbreak I encourage you to look at good resources like the WHO or CDC. Don’t blindly trust the media; do your research. There is so much fear and panic attached to the misinformation given to the masses. The results? Toilet paper shortages and hand sanitizers being sold for the ridiculous price of $70. That is to say, we should always stay alert and aware.
Here are some websites you can look into: WHO, CDC
If I may be blatantly honest, I am frustrated. I am baffled by the sheer number of people who are still looking at this pandemic as some “flu” - yes, to the healthy it might just be another “flu” that you will recover from, but to the many vulnerable others like the elderly, immunocompromised, and those who are already suffering from other health issues it could be a matter of life or death. Just to add more fuel to that flame, you could very well be a factor to that if you don’t take the proper precautionary measures.
We have a responsibility as a society—no, as human beings to do our part to flatten this curve; stay home. You may not be in the frontlines working in the medical field tirelessly fighting this pandemic, but I’m sure you know someone who is. Do it for them. Do it for the ones you know could be devastated by this disease. Do it for those who go to work so you can be safe. Do it for the sake of humanity! You may think that your part is of low impact because you’re just one person, but if every single person in the world thinks that way, then we could be headed somewhere much worse than right now. We have an opportunity to help each other come out of this much stronger, but we have to do it together.
Please, I urge you if you haven’t already, to look outside of yourselves. I cannot emphasize this any more than I already have, but please do yourself and everyone else around you a favor and help flatten the curve by staying home. If it’s not a necessity to go out, then don’t do it. Is it really worth the risk?
PSA: Having friends or extended family over at home for dinner or game night is not social distancing. The only people you should be seeing face to face are the people you live with. I know it sucks to be away from them, but sacrifices need to be made in order for us to get through this quicker. At this rate, the longer we hold onto the mentality that it’s ok to make these small social distancing compromises, the longer it will take for us to overcome this.
We need solidarity more now than ever. Don’t be that person who ruins it for everybody else for that one night you planned months before all this craziness went down, or whatever the case may be that would have you itching to leave the comfort and safety of your home.
Life changes in an instant, so plans have to change with it. Please for the sake of humanity, don’t be selfish. Look—I want to get out of the house just as much as the next person, but as I sit at home counting down the days we get to see the light at the end of this dark, winding tunnel I’m praying and thinking about the next person. Right now, we have to put some of our lives on pause, but we can press play if everyone follows the instructions given to us to help slow the spread of this virus.
All the “rant” aside, there are days I feel afraid, but I am reminded of John 16:33. I find a glimmer of hope because I know that my God is in control and He’s bigger than this pandemic. We will get through this, but we have to do it together (6ft apart, but preferably from home); thinking less of our selfish needs and more of the needs of others.
If you’re struggling to find light in this time of darkness, I encourage you to look to Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). He’s given Himself to overcome the world for us and to give us life abundantly (John 10:10).
Be a good human. Stay safe, stay sane, stay sanitized…STAY HOME. We will see a victory no matter what surrounds us.