Amidst the Chaos
The world is in chaos. Much of it is silent.
Shelves are bare. I wasn’t there when they were emptied.
I heard no noise, I saw no panic.
One day, the shelves were full. The next time I shopped, they were bare.
People are dying. No one is allowed to be with them except the hospital staff tending to them. If they’re lucky enough to be in a hospital.
I read the daily report with the numbers day after day.
How close is it? How safe can I pretend I am?
Some people are terrified. Panic and worry silently work through their psyches, solemnly waiting for the other shoe to drop.
My life, so far, is somewhat unchanged. I’ve been a homebody all my life. Shelter in place is my middle name.
When I went to the store to pick up my prescriptions, I still wore a smile, and I meant it.
I’m still here.
I’m still alive.
I’m doing what I can.
I’ve realized, though, how much I can live without.
And how very much I already have.
Like my family. At last check, they were all well and accounted for.
The earth is here for us, too: the grass, the trees, the brilliant blue sky.
They tell us to stop a minute. Breathe. Smell the flowers.
The wisteria is blooming like crazy right now, dripping down the trees in soft purple panicles of calm.
They tell us to slow down.
That life matters.
That it continues.
They remind us to appreciate the life we have, to live it well, to cherish the relationships that are so important to us.
The world isn’t full of hoarders. It only takes a few to make it seem like everyone is hoarding everything.
Look past the empty shelves.
There are people who are working hard to keep everything running: doctors and nurses, hospital and nursing facility staff, EMTs, firefighters, police, truck drivers, grocery store personnel, pharmacists, mailmen and women, delivery drivers, restaurateurs, food plant workers, lab technicians, the list is endless.
They put themselves in harm’s way every day for the rest of us.
There are people volunteering to help others.
There are ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
So when I’m asked to simply stay home so as many people as possible can stay safe, that’s a very small request.
Whatever unnecessary thing I thought I had to have, it can wait.
I choose to step back from the chaos.
I choose life.
Mine and yours.
~~~
.
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It sounds so easy, stay home, stay safe, if only it were. Yesterday I saw my first casualty of this outbreak. Unfortunately part of my job is collecting “path” waste from the morgue for shipment. The undertaker said casually “just another corona case” like he was getting a quart of milk. Most of the shelves are bare, but then who eats toilet paper, napkins and hand sanitizer anyways. When all this started I was enjoying a well deserved vacation with you, Michael and the kids. It all seemed kind of like “chicken little”. Holy crap the sky HAS fallen. One of my few sources of peace is now closed. Can you believe NO CHURCH for Easter? Of all the places to close, the liquer store is open “its vital”. And now the gov. wants to send NYC sick to western ny. as bugs would say “what a maroon”. What more can I say but shut-up mike. Till later
It sounds so easy, but it’s not. None of this is easy. It’s hard and it’s sad and people are getting sick and some of them are dying.
When you were here visiting, we had our first reported cases of the virus. Now, four weeks later, our count is upwards of 5,000 cases. New York had its first confirmed case while you were down here too, just two days before ours.
Life as we knew it has turned upside down in just a month. One guy in Washington state came back from Wuhan, China in January, In March, another man returns to Georgia from Italy, and in no time at all we have surpassed the number of cases in all of China–a country slightly smaller in size than ours with over one billion more people than we have. It blows my mind.
I’m sorry they have closed the churches. But I also understand why they did. The same with closing the schools. The rest of this school year will be done online.
On Easter morning take a chair out on the lawn down by the creek. Your back yard is one of the most peaceful places I know. I promise you, God will be there.
And on the other end of the phone line, I’m here for you too! With much love…c ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
I am so tired of people trying politicize everything going on now. This virus doesn’t discriminate, everyone is at risk. It’s time to put aside all our differences and work together to get through this crisis. I appreciate all the workers still going out there to help us all. I don’t mind staying home. I’m here to help anyone who needs it. We just need to pray, have faith and start looking for the good things that are happening. The air is cleaner, the streets are empty, enjoy your family, etc. I’m glad we have social media and computers, we are not alone. Stay as positive as you can, we will get through this.
Debbie, I agree. There’s nothing political about this whole situation (or at least there shouldn’t be). We need to work together, think and care about each other, try to help where we can. I have no problem staying home either. I’m not a very social person anyway. I feel bad for the extroverts who need that social outlet, I know this is harder for them than it is for me.
While it’s a sad reason for all the changes, we needs to take advantage of the time we have to slow down and realize how much we do have, to love a little more, to pray a little more, check in on each other, and to recognize all the good things that are going on around us every day.
I hope that you and your loved ones are doing well. Let’s all do our best to stay safe and keep praying and we’ll get through this together. ❤️…c
Good morning my friend. I am just going to say a simple Amen my sister. My thoughts are the same as many of yours. I, too, am a home body and am having no problems staying in, walking in the neighborhood and staying as safe as possible. I have only been out to the store a couple of times for the things I need. I have been able to find most things. I am blessed to have a freezer full of meat and vegetables and soup that I made during the fall and winter. This is not from bulk buying but I have always had an extra freezer with items in it. So I am good and so thankful to God everyday. Yes, those things we think we need can wait! It is amazing at times like this that we really have all we need for the most part. What we don’t have and think we need, we don’t. Enjoy what you have and enjoy life to the fullest. I have been so thankful for the little things we tend to forget. I have reread a few articles and books, I have studied the bible more, I have sat for longer times on my back porch enjoying the birds at the feeder, the wind, the rain, the sunshine, the bursting of Spring, the pollen, the blue sky and just sitting in quietness looking at God’s beautiful world he created for us to enjoy. I ordered some new jigsaw puzzles from Amazon. I even ordered some metal paint and brushes and I am going to attempt to touch up some wall art hangings on my fence. Now that will be interesting since I have no artistic ability at all. God did not bless me with that. You know what, I thought I will try it. If it turns out bad, guess what, I can just spray it and it will be all good. So I have enjoyed trying new adventures. Take this time to really soak in life and continue to pray for ourselves, our families, our military, our government, and most of all those courageous health care workers, doctors, nurses, 1st responders and our police force. Guard them and watch over them God. This too will pass. God is with us and God is good! Thank you Carol. Love you girl.
Susan Manry
I love your enthusiasm! Trying something new, something you might otherwise never have attempted. That’s awesome! Take some before and after pictures, I’d love to see it. Your artistic abilities lie outdoors with the landscape and your fence is part of the landscape-own it girl!
I’m so glad things are going well for you-let’s keep it that way! Stay out of harm’s way and we’ll all keep praying for those who need it most.
Love you back…c ❤️
Wise words, Carol. For such a time as this, we are gathered in our homes with some time on our hands to count our blessings, contemplate the difference between want and need, and to see the beauty around us.
As a reminder, the church doors may be closed but God is very much among us. He is not limited to a building or worship hour. God’s people are praying, ministering to the lonely, sick and hurting, encouraging one another, and maybe just being still to listen to His voice.
I must say, this time of isolation has caused me to miss my friends on a deeper level. I feel like I have wasted time by not calling more frequently and planning get togethers. I hope that we all celebrate well when the curtain of isolation rises and we are able to embrace each other again.
I love your writings, Carol. Thank you for encouraging us all. Be safe, healthy, and blessed.
Thank you Betty for your kind words.
I know what you mean about wasting time; this has been an eye opener for me as well. Our opportunities will come again, we just need to remember to take them.
And, yes, as much as some people feel abandoned, God is still with us, loving us, leading us, and inspiring us to love and help each other. Of this I am sure.
I look forward to the day we can get together, it’s been far too long and I’ve been suffering from hug withdraws! Love you my friend. ❤️…c
Well sister I made it thru what I thought was going to be a crappy Easter. Sarah & I sat and watched mass from OLV then took a trip to the cemetery to visit the relatives. Good news they’re all where they belong, socially distanced from each other. Tho, the shock was the number of people doing the same thing we were. As we walked from grave to grave I was amazed at the foot prints thru the cemetery (looked like there had been a concert). It was quite an uplifting day.
Brother, I’m so glad it turned out to be a good day for you. Sometimes it’s hard to keep looking on the bright side. I’m happy all the relatives are safe and I appreciate you guys checking up on them! I’m glad you two enjoyed your portion of the “concert.” I think you got snow today, but enjoy the spring as best you can. Hope springs eternal and all that jazz! Love you…sis ❤️