WAKEUP CALL

COVID-19, NIAID

Early in my business career, it was commonplace to ask the front desk for a wakeup call upon checking into a hotel.  That was always very effective when the telephone loudly rang early in the morning instead of the usual clock radio calling us to action.  Today of course, we carry an alarm with us and don’t have to rely on the occasionally absent front desk clerk for a wakeup call.  But this new virus that is now circling around the world is sounding another wakeup call.  And although there are many things in life beyond our individual control, we do have control over our response.

Sadly, we humanoids rarely stop the treadmill and pause to be mindful, let alone thankful, of all the blessings we take for granted in this present day.  We’ve created vaccines for many of the old sicknesses that harassed the world prior to our births such as polio, measles, smallpox, mumps, leprosy, etc.  But when a virus morphs into a completely new and very dangerous strain, COVID-19, we’re left completely vulnerable until science can hopefully create another vaccine to checkmate it. 

Until that time, our government has taken the unprecedented action to begin asking or ordering citizens to self-isolate and observe social distancing to impede spreading the highly contagious virus.  This has resulted in all sorts of unexpected consequences such as masses of people hoarding toilet paper, breathing masks and hand sanitizer, spring break students still partying en masse on our beaches, social media posting all manner of dark gallows humor, parents and spouses immediately spending much more quality time together, children being home schooled and giving parents a greater appreciation for teachers, people suddenly having time on their hands to stop and reflect on their life’s trajectory and billions of human beings suddenly forced to confront their own self-centeredness and the common legacy we all share.  

When King Solomon had finished building the great temple for God in Jerusalem, he appeared to Solomon at night and accepted it.  But he had this caveat that when the people began to turn their backs on him and he withdrew his protection, the people would need to seek him, ask for forgiveness and change their behavior for him to heal the land.  He counsels us to be still and know that I am God.  The current plague of coronavirus gets its name from the spikes on its surface which look like a corona, Latin for crown that a king can be seen wearing.  This is a time of sober reflection for the entire world to rally around an unprecedented common cause affecting everyone on the planet.  It’s an opportunity for the entire human race to join together in defeating a common enemy that has the potential to either decimate us in a contagious pandemic or unite us in a contagious perfect love.

So beautiful from Pope Francis

Tonight before falling asleep
think about when we will return to the street.
When we hug again,
when all the shopping together will seem like a party.

Let's think about when the coffees will return to the bar, the small talk, the photos close to each other.
We think about when it will be all a memory but normality will seem an unexpected and beautiful gift.
We will love everything that has so far seemed futile to us.

Every second will be precious.
Swims at the sea, the sun until late, sunsets, toasts, laughter.
We will go back to laughing together.

Strength and courage.