Like most of you I was not anticipating our civilization grinding to a halt suddenly over a virus. I am a very fortunate person. I have a freezer & pantry full of food always, I have Costco sized supplies of toilet paper, paper towels, coffee, vitamins on hand as usual. I also have a career I love in a very low traffic office that minimizes person-to-person contact. We got rid of the waiting room magazines today. We keep the touchable surfaces treated. The goal here is to minimize anxiety over catching or spreading the virus. This week I added a videotherapy (“teleshrink”) option. So let’s break this issue down and see it like my tribe sees it. Coronavirus: 1) It’s a real threat. Not a made up one, not a diabolical plot, just the inevitable result of too little regulation, too many people and too slow a response time. People were allowed to buy and eat wild animals which were not tested and cleared by any inspection process (I’m talking to you, Ted Nugent!) Even though we went through this with avian flu, SARS, Ebola, mad cow somehow we weren’t prepared, again. We were misinformed, marginalized and caught flat footed and a lot of people are going to die 2) you are probably not going to die but you might get pretty sick. Take no comfort in this whatsoever, because, guess what: 3) you may very well kill other people with your carelessness. Always act as if you ARE infected and your behavior choices should be obvious. 4 ) the reason people panic is because our culture has insanely high levels of fear in these times. Anger, greed, retribution, exclusion, hoarding, blaming, all different serpents of the hydra head of fear. 5) If you know me, you know I teach one immutable truth. Everything that is not love is fear 6) Where does fear come from? Mostly the media, social media, controlling people and a default circuit in our brain that begins every new stimulus sweep with “what here could hurt me?” That and the fact that “news” is mostly billionaires telling millionaires to broadcast lies to middle class people that poor people are the problem. You can replace the word poor with any “other” adjective to get the whole spectrum. Try: foreign, illegal, gay, radical, feminazi, Muslim, black, brown, non-English speaking, young, bloggers, you get the picture. 7) The solution should be obvious. Take any FUBAR you see and ask yourself, “What here needs more love?” you can substitute many words for love, like; blankets, meals, medicine, support, peace, hope, encouragement, chocolate, therapy. You get the picture. 8) In a nutshell, “What would Mr. Rogers do?” Did you know Fred Rogers was a Presbyterian minister? That is what a Christian looks like, accept no impostors. He also embodied a zen attitude that started with a fresh mind, an honest and thorough appraisal and a plan of action for himself to address.the situation. Practical, hopeful, accountable, responsible Truth and love have a lot in common, a Venn diagram of inclusion. Hate and love have very little in common. “Ain’t no time to hate”. Lies and love have very little in common. Your job is to speak the truth, spread the truth, confront lies and refuse to engage with the enraged. Do what you can. In my Nextdoor.com app of neighbor to neighbor communication there are now quite a few offers of personal help for people less able to survive these changes. Do what you can.
“this, too, shall pass - Lao Tze
“Trust Allah but tether your camel” - Mohammed
“Praise the Lord Anyway!” - my favorite bumper sticker
Peace and Love, Jeff