GOT PANDEMIC FATIGUE?

It’s called ‘pandemic fatigue.’ I know because like many of you, I have it. It has disrupted any sense of normalcy in so many areas this year, and the latest virus surge seems to be worse. At the same time, I am one of the fortunate ones to have not lost a loved one to coronavirus.

I honestly thought, like most of you, that this health crisis would be pretty much over by June, and back in March even that thought felt strange. Strange that it would last that long.

Man, I heard the doctors and scientists but did not really believe that the holidays would be approaching and COVID would be like a fire we can’t put out.

I’ve got masks stashed everywhere. They have become for me a regular clothing item. Oh, I am tired of wearing them. But far more tired of seeing people hospitalized and dying from coronavirus.

Yesterday I heard a vaccine is on the way soon. But realistically, we have to get through this winter. In my mind I have accepted that, like it or not, I will still be wearing the mask until Spring. I pray, dear God, not any longer. But we’ll see.

My heart wishes for a quick recovery but my head accepts that all the holiday plans, all the plans to conduct the normal holiday events and worship services, and all the dining out and shopping and big family events and travel may have to be scrutinized and most likely curbed.

I don’t like it. But I am not powerless in this fight. There are actually things I can do at my level to speed up recovery. While it is personally an inconvenience, it helps the team fighting the pandemic. (God truly bless them). I can limit my travel, limit my going out shopping and eating and getting in crowds. I can wear my facemask. I can practice social distancing. I can do my part. I can be patient and be flexible. I can accept that others in this pandemic have it much worse and others’ lives have been changed forever this year.

Overall, honestly, I have it easy. Others aren’t so lucky.

Yes, I have ‘pandemic fatigue.’ But this year, that’s like getting a boo boo while others have lost their lives. So I will pledge to not politicize or complain about the virus. But to pray for those who have lost loved ones, pray for those who have lost businesses and livelihoods, pray for those who have lost time in classrooms, social clubs, churches and health clubs. and pray for those who are literally on the front lines caring for sick, recovering and dying patients. And I will pray for legislators to have the wisdom to make decisions on how and when to reopen the local ecomomies. And I will pray for a safe, effective vaccine that is available to all people who request it. And for it to be affordable to them.