Dale Perkins, Nanaimo

It’s becoming increasingly evident that most of the population is struggling to adjust their life-styles to fit the protocol expected of us ‘polite’ Canadians.

From my observations there are more people wearing face masks and staying the required two metres away from each other, and obediently we’re not congregating (I expect most of us are washing our hands more often and staying inside our bubbles as well.) And what about the obvious increase in the number of dogs on leashes in the streets “walking their owners”?

Each day we’re given regular updates on the numbers of people infected and dying from the virus. I’ve not seen comparisons giving the stats on the number of people dying from other diseases and maladies ‘pre COVID-19’. So I have no way of assessing what the actual increase in deaths is now which can be directly attributed to coronavirus infections.

Nevertheless, it is reassuring to see the increased public response to the admonitions issued by authorities and the serious effort made by the ‘general public’ to “level the curve” and stem infections because of this virus.

Family

One personal feeling I’m aware of is anxiety about how I’m supposed to live “in-between” times (= before this coronavirus was so pervasive and now). That is, how should I be chang- ing my life-style in order to follow the protocol I hear all around me? Am I showing due diligence in my way of adjusting to these new expectations?

I’ve seen members of my extended families making radical changes to how and where they live. Yet here I am making car trips to my home province Saskatchewan to visit with family and friends, as well as flying east to the so- called ‘hot spots’ in Ontario (Ottawa and Toronto) where I also visited immediate family members and close friends. Am I an ignorant “denier”, oblivious of the dangers I’ve inflicted on my family and friends?

However, I know I very much need social interaction; otherwise I feel myself shrivelling up and seeing my loneliness gauge ‘go through the roof’. I’ve read that the numbers of people dying from loneliness is as high as those dying because of this particular coronavirus.

Confused

So I find myself constantly confused by what is going on in my world and to know what I must do to join the company of folks wanting to live responsibly and ethically. It’s not a matter of me needing to deny the dangers and resist public protocol restrictions; it’s simply guidance; and the entire COVID -19 protocol confuses me a lot.

To contrast  it  to  other  serious threats to my/our wellbeing – If I saw an approaching wildfire coming down onto my town and neighbourhood I would readily act to prevent it from destroying my house and neighbour- hood. Or if I was warned about an approaching hurricane I would gather my belongings and leave my home to get out of its destructive path.

Or if an invading military force had landed and overcome our military and taken control of our country I would actively join the resistance movement. However a virus – what can I do other than wear a face mask, not congregate and wash my hands more often? So I’m wrestling with what are the necessary life-style changes I must make to be a responsible citizen now.

Core Issues

When it comes right down to the core issue for me – am I really getting scared about possibly dying (at almost 80 years of age)? Today that danger is represented by an unseen virus; next week it might be the threat of violence south of us because of the outcome of their Presidential election. And maybe another virus is imminent and just as voracious as the current COVID-19 brand, or perhaps the climate changes happening as I write will bring with it a legion of environ- mental calamities.

In a word, do I wish to live the rest of my life fearing death and destruction because of real and possible threats to my well-being?

Faced with these kinds of serious concerns just to carry on with the journey without getting totally depressed becomes an important and urgent challenge. Surely this must be a central issue for one’s faith – what hopeful signs are contained in my/our faith traditions that will enable us to

Above: One of many bridges to cross. Below: Stuck in the mud with a load of sand.

experience genuine happiness and a fulfilled life?

And do we have any realistic expectation that these issues and concerns can be addressed from our faith perspective? Well, I believe that we do have that right to expect thoughts and feelings that can address these questions and concerns and the institutional church must grapple with messages and perspec- tives that can enable each one of us who belong to a faith tradition to realize some of these ends. Otherwise why have them as significant players in the dance of life?

Dale Perkins in a retired United Church minister.