When Did We Stop Caring About Each Other?

I can’t figure it out. When I was growing up, it was so important to work toward the common good, but it feels like we have lost that. Why is wearing a mask to protect others and yourself a political issue?

Every week I check people in for Mass at our church. About ninety percent do what needs to be done in the moment, (which is, signing in, wearing a mask, staying socially distant), even though it is a bit of a pain. In addition, we have volunteers who spend every weekend trying to help create an environment that allows people to relax and have some real time with God in prayer instead of worrying about risk factors. And this is what we all have in common, we know it isn’t about us or about our personal opinion. We know that our churches had to shut down because this virus wasn’t taken seriously, we know that we are responsible to and for one another in the eyes of God. We take this virus seriously. We take our role in providing a safe environment to worship seriously. Some don’t agree, some don’t like it (actually none of us LIKE it) but they do it anyway FOR THE COMMON GOOD.

But there are a couple of guys who think they are above the protocol and show their true characters by acting like man-babies about having to sign in or properly wearing a mask. They have options, they can go to another church or not go at all. They have options. Unfortunately, they act like this and seem to not connect to gratitude at all. They seem to not be able to tap into the gift of being alive, of being mobile enough to go to church, of having a faith community that cares enough about them to make a boatload of extra duties on an already strapped staff to create a relaxing environment. It is unfortunate. It is pitiable. It says a lot about the state of their lives. But it is also terrificly annoying.

Yet, for every one of them, there are 50 others who are loving and kind and compliant. They are grateful and willing to do what is necessary to try to ease our burden. They make a point of coming in every week with a smile on their faces and a playful banter as I mess up the registration process. The majority are very kind. The complainers are the stand-outs. And they do stand-out.

Last week a man in a town north of here was diagnosed with COVID-19 after exposing who knows how many, he is unwilling to cooperate with contact tracing. No one really cares where he as been, they only care who was potentially exposed, but his response was, “Contact my lawyers.”

Wow.

Really?

That is the response when all you have to do is CARE that you may have exposed people who supposedly matter to you? I would like to point out that he is a coach and a member of a church up there, I don’t know him, he may be a good guy, but this is a shamefully jerk move. It makes me scratch my head. How does one justify this behavior and look in the mirror?

God is always calling us to change, to be better, to allow him to work through us. What a wonderful opportunity we have to actually ALLOW God to work through us by protecting one another. This isn’t about protection through battle, Jesus didn’t fight with weapons, he transformed others through healing and love. If we call ourselves followers of Christ we need to do the same. It is as simple as that. If we are to call ourselves followers of Christ we are to at least try love others as Jesus did. If we are to call ourselves followers of Christ, we are not to bow to fear and confusion, we are to seek out ways to minimize it.

Since the beginning of this pandemic, it has been clear to me that as Catholics we have the opportunity to witness how to be people of faith while being people of science. Not all diocese have followed this approach but mine has. As people of faith and reason, we followed the guidelines from the healthcare community and the government and continue to do so.

It doesn’t have to be all or nothing.

I wear a mask in public spaces and I wash my hands and use hand sanitizer when I can’t wash my hands. I don’t go where I don’t need to go because I am always aware that I can be exposed one way or another through work. I try to interact with others outside as much as possible. Mostly, I stay home. (After all, why borrow trouble?) All the while remembering that this devastation didn’t have to be this bad.

I will continue to follow the guidelines while using common sense. It is no infringement on my rights or on my faith as I do not worship my individuality and leaders are not my idols. I follow a God and subscribe to a faith, that at it’s best and in it’s deepest knowledge, promotes primacy of conscience informed by reason and faith. My informed conscience tells me to care for others.

So, I beg of you, if you struggle with all of this (and I know it has not been easy on any of us) please, please consider that God is walking us through a transformation. Maybe God is asking us to remember that every bit of creation is God’s and that each person matters as part of that Creation. Maybe God is asking you to look at your brother and sister who don’t have the same choices, the same access to healthcare, the same income or the same support system, as equally beloved and valuable children of God. When you protect your neighbor and cast aside arrogance and self-serving behaviors, you help bring about the kingdom of God. You allow the Holy Spirit to work through your actions. (How humbling!) It is the very least we can do at this point in time. The very, very least.

Stay well my friends and I hope people are protecting you too!