In the blink of an eye.

That’s what’s so astonishing.

How everything about our existence can change in a matter of days.

Now intellectually we all know that. We all know that life can change in an instant.

But emotionally I’m not sure how many of us could have truly grasped how a virus could upend our lives—upend our entire world.  Until now.

A month ago, corona was a beer and we didn’t really know terms like social distancing and Covid-19. We sure do now.

There is a twilight zone aspect to this pandemic.

I’m writing this sitting in my backyard on a beautiful night and it feels like I’m living in paradise.

But somewhere out there is this virus that can kill and it’s a sobering thought. There is a Russian Roulette aspect to this pandemic that makes it extra scary.

Some may have it and never know. Some will feel fine and crash. If they do, they will die alone.

I think of my older friends, my father and my friends parents and worry about their well-being.

But I also know that younger people are susceptible as well and that no one is truly safe.

I marvel at the bravery of our medical community, first responders and all those who work in essential jobs. They are at risk but they persist.

All around me are examples of quiet heroism.

People trying to support their favorite local businesses, CEOs and business owners trying to take care of their employees and teachers who are going above and beyond.

A friend of mine told me about what’s happening at Trinity Lutheran School up the street from where I live. Teachers giving up Spring Break so they can keep teaching the children that they are so devoted too.

It fills your heart.

Papas Tapas, one of my favorite restaurants, is feeding first responders and hospital workers at a time when their sales have to be hurting.

I see small business owners reaching out to the Small Business Administration for loans to keep their people employed.

In my dark moments, I feel like a prisoner unable to go anywhere or do anything. It’s no fun to see the stock market plummet and your life savings dwindle. It’s no fun to see business endeavors die and it’s frustrating because we can’t see the bottom yet and don’t really know when or how this will end.

But..in my more hopeful moments, I see all the good in the community and in the wider world. And I wonder, if perhaps, we will come out the other side of this better people.

We will ever take lunch with a friend for granted again?

We will ever decide to skip that party or that trip because we’re tired or there’s always next year?

I will be grateful when this ends. And I’m praying it is not as bad as the best case scenarios are predicting. But when it ends I’m hopeful that this experience leaves us appreciative of all things large and small.

The ability to see your friends.

The chance to have lunch with your dad.
The opportunity to go to a wedding or a birthday party or to visit your favorite watering hole.

We may be a long way from those days. I sure hope not. But it may be a ways off. But that day will come.

Until then, be careful, be safe and use this time to see what you can do to support the simple things we love about our community.