God is Everything to Me
A good friend texts me a daily devotional each morning. I am so grateful for this! Usually, they are reminders that no matter how tough things are, the Lord is always there and I need to lean on Him. An example:
Understanding will never bring you Peace. That is why I have instructed you to trust in Me, not in your understanding.
Proverbs 3:5-6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make straight your paths.
People Want Their Lives Back Already!
A lot has happened.
Washington Governor Inslee extended the Stay at Home Order through May 30. He also developed a 4-part plan to reopen the economy …. each phase to occur as it was safe to do so. I believe and trust what explained during his press conferences.
Politicizing an Apolitical Virus
The pandemic has become increasingly politicized. I had to “snooze” several friends in my Facebook account due to polarizing and divisive posts. Those that are making the pandemic and the economy falsely equivalent are my greatest challenge these days.
I believe the experts when they say that we could be dealing with COVID for another 18 months or so. What experts do I choose to believe? Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Deborah Birx, and Dr. Sanjay Gupta . They are all followers of science and understand scientific research and epidemiology. Drs. Fauci and Birx are epidemiologists and researchers that have served the Federal Government for decades under various administrations.
The case rates have started to flatten up here in Washington, which is good. States are still saying that staying home is still the best way. But there are groups of young people now going outside, in large groups, on beaches … blatantly disregarding the social distancing guidelines. Lots of people aren’t doing what they should. They are tired of being stuck at home, and the weather is great!
And then there’s Trump. He really does confuse people and promote the false equivalency, and to me he appears to be more concerned about the upcoming election and his own reputation. He often uses the COVID press releases as opportunities to make campaign-related statements.
States are starting to open up. Some are as safely as possible, based on current science. Others … perhaps not. Only the future will determine if they opened safely. Don’t know when, how and if case peaks will occur in the future as states walk back to some opening of their economies.
There are protestors pushing back against the “rules,” claiming that the stay at home orders and restrictions on reopening businesses are unconstitutional and against their “rights.” This is part of a disturbing trend of politicizing the pandemic. It’s not the social distancing that’s damaging the economy, it’s COVID 19. I don’t believe we can go back to our normal lives until we defeat COVID 19. Any normalcy is not possible while it’s still lurking about. The only way around social distancing is through it. The experts I’ve chosen to listen to are saying this. I truly believe it.
Over and over, the experts I have chosen to follow are saying to wait until there is a sustained decrease in cases and we have the testing capacity and contact tracing strategies to come out of social distancing safely.
This disease sounds terrible, according the testimonies I am now hearing from those that have had it and recovered. Doctors describe it as a humanitarian disaster. Dying alone because of the needed quarantine? All these stories, too horrible to imagine.
Inadequate testing, too long to get results. This is “helping” the virus to spread. Stories are still coming in from those that should know.
There are millions of people that haven’t been exposed, so if we go back to “normal” we could go back to the same awful place, and the economy will be in much worse shape and far more lives will be lost. It’s what the scientific experts are saying. I believe this!
Invest in testing, contact tracing, take it easy going back!!!!
It also appears as if more support is needed for the front line people such as nurses, and that there STILL isn’t adequate PPE. Nurses and care providers are needing more and better protective equipment. Their commitment is amazing. They are at risk of getting COVID and passing it along to others. We should focus on supporting them! Testing results turnaround is slow which means medical personnel are caring for patients before they know if they have COVID … and during this interim period, the care providers don’t receive adequate PPE such as N95 masks. Receiving this equipment requires caring for a patient that has tested positive for COVID. That’s an awful scenario! (SOURCE: Sanjay Gupta’s interview with care providers in his podcast Fact VS. Fiction).
A Fractured Health Care System
The current insurance approval process for health care impedes the process and the weight is on the backs of patients. Knowing what my youngest brother and nephew have gone through with the health system, and what my in-laws went through when they were alive … I get this. The very sick are at a huge disadvantage. My belief system regarding health care and insurance has been affected by what I’ve observed so far through this whole pandemic.
We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know
I have to remind myself that we’ve only been in the middle of this for 2 months. And, that our nation was ill-prepared which is why there are so many problems right now. People are working hard. I do believe that in many, many cases people are doing the best that they can, given the circumstances. Extra grace is required and there are many reasons to be kind, listen, and realize that we really don’t know what we don’t know.
As of May 15
I don’t see that the case data here in Washington has changed all that much. In our county, the cases have plateaued but not declined. There are still “hotspots” in Washington. I wish that I knew more about the origin of these cases to determine if there are any patterns or small areas where the virus is prevalent. But HIPAA prevents much sharing about that.
Let’s Open Back Up!
Opening up is the priority now … but up here, “only when it is safe.” Currently, all counties are in Phase 1 and they have to be in this first phase a minimum amount of time before they can be approved to apply for permission to move to the next phase. And then, their applications have to be reviewed, as well as their data. There are varying opinions about just what “going back” means. Many people appear to be anticipating a higher level of normalcy. I get a sense that some people won’t want to be inconvenienced by the “new way” of shopping or receiving services. Some will have cut back their budgets due to the economic downturn and won’t have the disposable income. Personal actions, diminished travel activities, and other personal choices/behaviors will play a role in economic recovery, not just the government saying “you can come back now.”
I’m hearing that every state/area is different, with varying degrees of COVID infection, demographics, population density, etc. And demographics are now showing that some populations appear to be experiencing a disproportionate number of infections. I think it’s good that the state is deciding the “open up” protocols and I’m pleased with Governor Inslee’s leadership. He’s considering each Washington county separately based upon their case statistics.
I’m waiting to see how the state of Georgia does, as well as Sweden. Georgia, as directed by their Governor, completely reopened and Sweden was never closed. But their individual circumstances have to also be reviewed. Think some answers won’t be available until around the middle of June at the earliest.
Live and Let Live
I totally agree, and choose to adopt, the following philosophy at this time:
There are always two sides to every story and more than one way to solve a problem. We don’t have to be at odds to open up this country.
When a restaurant opens its doors you can go in and eat inside if you feel safe. If you don’t feel safe you can still get your meal to go.
As malls begin to open up you can go shop all day long if you feel safe. If you don’t feel safe going into the mall you can continue to shop online or request curbside if available.
If you don’t feel safe without a mask continue to wear your mask. If your friend doesn’t want to wear a mask continue to talk over the phone or zoom with them.
When your hairdresser opens up if you feel comfortable getting a haircut go for it. If you don’t feel safe going to the hairdresser feel free to let your hair grow.
Live and let live. Don’t expect everyone to think or act like you. We all have different life circumstances. You decide what you need to do to keep yourself safe and respect how others decide to keep themselves safe.
As of May 31
I am doing my best to be “quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.”
Often, I take a deep breath and picture myself one day, one week, or one month from now. What about my situation will be different? The same? This whole pandemic is an iterative process. There’s lots of unknown regarding COVID 19 and this unknown is what’s primarily impacting my life right now. I am processing new developments my way, but not the way someone else might be.
As May ends and June begins, I reflect on where Lynn and I are right now. We have very carefully allowed our grandchildren to visit us (out on the patio), but not all of them at once. We discuss why it’s important for us to social distance, and they understand. We also see son Brian and wife Vicki at least once a week (in our home). Like us, they have a very small footprint.
Tomorrow (June 1) Whatcom County will be applying for permission to move to Phase 2. (Go here to view the 4-Phase reopening plan). So Lynn and I are considering how this will impact us, and the choices we will make as the economy begins to reopen.
My mind is flooded with lots of information! I have listened to lots of podcasts and press conferences. Rather than “cut and paste,” I may create separate pages with some information that I will either use for guidance or that I will follow to see how much of it ends up being accurate in the end.
Coping strategies and the choices we are currently making (as of May 31)
Next: COVID 19 – June 2020