Flatten the Curve, Spike the Concern

Trying to think of all the things that fall flat right now… like the “influencers” who are doing ridiculous things: fashion updates, horrible bikinis with surgical masks (where did they even get them? Oh, yeah, they don’t need them in Russia), licking toilet seats in airplanes. I think I speak for everyone when I say, “Ewwwwww!”

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I get it that ESPN needs something to report these days, but can I just say that I am SO not into Tom Brady’s new contract, or Cam’s pique at being released or whatever… I mean, I am worried about my waiter the other day at Thomas Street Tavern. I had gone there the afternoon of Governor Cooper’s 5 p.m. shutdown, thinking it may be a while before I got to sit down in an eat-out place, and wondering what that place should be, and so I decided on

Thomas Street. Decided on a corned-beef Reuben and tots, only to discover they had run out of corned beef (others must have had the same thought). Okay, a club, but only two pieces of toasted wheat bread… and then when the food came I talked with the waiter. Things were already slowing way down (I got there about 3).

“What are you going to do?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” he replied. “The owner told us it might be May before we work again.”

“Wow.”

“I’ll be fine. I don’t need a lot. More worried about my dog. He needs special food.”

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I left an over-large tip, hoping to help feed the dog if not the waiter.

So forgive me if I am not really concerned about Tom’s millions, or Cam’s aggrievements. Or a host of other things that about 10 days ago may have been of at last passing interest. Now, they just seem silly. The “drama” seems wildly dissonant to the actual challenges of how many people are going to survive it.

So, today, I actually encouraged a roster of people to cancel a trip they had planned with me in October, to fly into Rome, get on a cruise ship, go to Malta, then to Santorini and Mykonos, to Athens, Ephesus, Corinth… I was so looking forward to retracing some of the journeys of St. Paul! But, A) Rome?

Maybe by October, but the docs say the virus may be with us at least one more and possibly two more seasons. B) A cruise ship? So many people stranded right now on cruise ships and we have all heard the stories. By October all of that may be a memory, but it will be a fresh memory nonetheless and the psychology of it—after fear has been so deeply injected into our minds, it will be hard to purge—makes having a good time, even in Santorini, hard. C) Some of those who were going this time: and some of them more at risk than others might be. I am worried about them, and just as worried about all the people whose lives and livelihoods will be affected by the decision. I have a friend who is a travel agent in St. Pete. She predicts that the travel industry as a whole will be decimated by COVID-19—is already on life support, as it were (I mean do disrespect to anyone for using the metaphor). She thinks fully half of all agencies will shutter for good; but that those that do survive will partner with cruise lines and others to offer great deals when travel is possible again and fun. I have not listed that as “D,” because even considering that feels a little vulture-ish to me, except I am not trying to take advantage. Not even really thinking about the next trip. Just taking it one day at a time, as it were, Sweet Jesus. That’s all I ask for me or my people.

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FYI… we getting ready to start a new “Prayers for the Day,” or some such. About 10 minutes of prayer and devotion at noon for the duration. I have just recorded the one for tomorrow. We will be posting it on our webpage and FB page. I hope you will join us.

Prayer is one of the things that does NOT fall flat. Does not land with a thud, at all. In fact, in you are praying along with us in A Diary of Private Prayer, you have noticed how relevant, how timely, how eerie, really, are the intersections between our daily situation and Dr. Baillie’s prayers. 

He did not claim special visions, nor did he portend prognostications (heard enough of that yesterday); he was just spiritually adept, prayed about the perennial matters of soul and life that nest in almost every day’s circumstances.

Prayer, Bible—again, I hope you are reading your text. And especially the stories of displacement and relocation which seem, to my heart at least, so relevant and applicable right now.

Prayer, Bible, the Spirit—and songs, hymns and spiritual songs evidence of the Spirit’s presence. Get your hymnal, sing (or at least read, rhythmically) the words that give a door to the Spirit and at the same time express the emboldening Spirit to a fearful word. Post hymns on FB, if you are still on FB.

Get off Facebook, too, at least for a good while every day. Most all of THAT falls flat, too.

Prayer, Bible, Spirit/song, community—we cannot go it alone. So thank God for technology. (This morning, we had our staff meeting on Zoom. Six of us, and we looked for all the world like The Brady Bunch). Keep reaching out. Call and check on folk. Let us know if anyone needs food or medicine.

Flatten the curve but Spike the concern.