When I was a kid we travelled to Hattiesburg, Mississippi every summer to visit my grandparents; an 8 hour trip through South Louisiana, on two lane highways before Interstate 10 was completed, hot air blowing through the half open windows of an un-air conditioned car, with my sister and brother and me sitting on hot vinyl seats trying not to touch each other. We were practicing social distancing before it was a thing. Keep that image in mind when you hear stories about the good ole days.
It was a long, boring, uncomfortable trip with no end in sight. We played every car game you could imagine to pass the time – Doodlebug (never heard of it? ask a Boomer), I Spy… we even attempted playing the quiet game, which I never, ever won. My dad even offered us a chocolate malt for every 25 miles we could keep our mouths shut. On a 350 mile trip the most I ever earned was two malts. Did I mention it was a long, boring, uncomfortable trip with no end in sight? We asked the same question over and over. Are we there yet? No, we’re only in Lake Charles.
You know where I’m going with this don’t you. This long journey of closures, disruptions, and social distancing feels like a long, boring, uncomfortable trip with no end in sight. We know it’s temporary, but at times it almost feels hopeless. We’re not there yet, and it may feel like forever before we get there, but we will get there. We may never get to Mississippi but we will get through this. As an article I read today said, “This is a time to overprotect but not overreact.”
Till then let remember the basics we’ve learned.
Keep 6 feet between yourself and others
Wash your hands
Don’t touch your face (unless you’re giving a press conference; and then only touch your tongue before turning a page)
And don’t ever carry your laptop into the bathroom when you’re on a Zoom call.
One more thing, keep praying.
Pray for God to heal those who are ill. Pray for treatments and a cure.
Pray for health care workers. They are like firemen running into burning buildings every day.
Pray for our leaders. They are making decisions for which there is no precedent.
Pray for layoffs, furloughs and closures to be temporary.
Pray for parents trying to learn how to work from home while homeschooling kids who prefer their teachers over mom or dad.
Pray for special needs children and their families. Many of those kids absolutely cannot understand or cope with this break in their routine. It’s almost unbearable for everyone involved.
Pray for patience.
This journey won’t last forever. And when it’s over it’s going to be great to be with the grandparents again.
Live bold…and share that toilet paper you’ve been hoarding,
Greg
