The phone call signaled the beginning. The assisted living facility where my elderly neighbor resided had closed its doors.
No visitors until further notice.
That edict concerned me because said neighbor had recently spent time in the elder care unit at the hospital and had been sent back to the assisted living facility under the supervision of Hospice. His fragile condition, combined with his state of mental confusion, would only be compromised by a lack of visitors. My husband and I encompass his handful of outside contacts.
How would we see to his miscellaneous needs?
A day later I had an appointment with my stylist. One of the women there had young children. Schools had just been closed for the next two weeks. She worried about the need to keep them well while finding suitable care for them when she worked.
Our church messaged its congregation to tell us Sunday services would be held even though assemblies greater than 250 were discouraged by the governor. With two separate services, neither worship time will exceed that number, but each of us was admonished to stay home if we had been ill, had run a fever, or currently experienced a cough or sniffles. That should eliminate everyone else.
The final reality came when the local symphony postponed its March program until May. Ticket holders were told to retain their tickets and use them then. Does that mean our circumstances will change by May?
These are unusual times in which to be living. I can’t tell you how tired I am of singing the birthday song while I wash my hands. Or of inventorying the supplies to keep my home running. Or, like some of my friends, making plans only to have the event cancelled.
This is not the way we live.
But the need to be diligent outweighs the inconvenience. The Bible understood the difficult times we’d face. In Isaiah 41:10 we are told: “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
We can trust the God of heaven for the outcome. Go out. Be alert. Stay diligent.
Keep washing those hands.
Time yourself singing other songs you like. 20 seconds.
At an infection control inservice I gave examples of a few songs from western pop charts, but got the laughs when I suggested “Beer Never Broke My Heart.”
You pick the song!!! Use lots of friction while washing 20 seconds in.
Thank you always for reminding us that our God is an awesome God.