Posted 8/3/20
“He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” –Deuteronomy 8:3
When I behold Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You set in place—what is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him? Psalm 8:3-4
Another weekend flies by like a buy-one, get-one, 99 cent gross of bottle rockets at the creek on the 4th of July! Interesting times we are a livin’ in for sure. Oh, and speaking of gross, “happy” gross (number) of days of articles since we were Shawshank-locked out of free and easy visitation of our friends and loved ones in nursing homes in America due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been 144 days…yes, 12 dozen of them in full, since we have been able to swap stories and watch Andy Griffith with mom and the Sweet 17. It is profoundly sad on one hand and a little maddening on the other. However, this article just asks you to be patient…even more patient than you have already been…and know that somehow all will turn out ok. Here are some random thoughts, in no particular order, like bottle rockets without the sticks, on the topic:
- Be patient. If they start letting people visit now, as I mentioned on the news last week, either they will have to provide PPE (masks, gloves, gowns, etc…) to everyone or they will have to allow them to provide their own (that may or may not work. Depending on where you read, between just over 40% and 81% of deaths from the pandemic are related to these precious souls.
- Want to see how your nursing home has done? Here is a link to the interactive CDC map that allows you to see reasonably up-to-date data: Link. This is an amazing tool, made possible by big data, the object of scorn and distrust for many (but not me, to a point…)
- There are some options now…not great ones, but they are options… My mom’s nursing home allows Zoom-like virtual meetings. If you need help with the technology in this area, call or text me at 417-955-2513. I will schedule you for a completely free tech training session. I have taught dozens and dozens of, shall we say, “less than tech savvy” folk how to do these. All I need from you is to either ask what program they use or give me a contact person’s info and I will ask them for you. I am here to help. 🙂 My mom’s nursing home also allows closed window visits and limited, outdoor, masked and distanced visits. None of these are enough, but they are better than nothing.
- Nursing homes are also typically short-staffed. In a pandemic, they are still short-staffed and they have to be hyper-vigilant in keeping staff healthy and preventing them from coming in to work when sick. All it takes is one bringing it in and it can spread to most or all within a short amount of time. Sadly, despite bringing in a lot of gross revenue, nursing homes don’t always pay the best and it is often more lucrative to work in food service instead of risking harboring that potential guilt. Note here: this applies to entry-level positions…nursing pays better as you move up or specialize. If you feel a calling to serve seniors in this way, PLEASE jump in. They are all hiring…even now!
- Herd immunity will eventually slow and stop this mess. It always has so far and always will. We have to be patient.
- Vaccine trials are going on everywhere and treatments should be improving even as virus strength should be declining soon…
- In a Christian context: Theology matters as we think through this stuff. Remember the character and nature of God. He is Good and He is Just. He loves His children and Romans 8:28 speaks of how He works things for good for His own. Is it easy? Nope. But it is momentary, especially compared to the promise of eternity of peace and joy. But why do bad things happen to good people??? It boils down to your definition of “good”. In a Biblical sense, “good” means moral perfection. Given this moral standard, there has only been one “good” person: Jesus Christ. Therefore this question really doesn’t work. I would be happy to expound on this topic offline too, but suffice it to say that there are all sorts of reasons why bad things happen, but God is Sovereign and will help us through. We may not ever understand why these bad things happen this side of heaven, but we DO have heaven to gaze toward as we trod. Last thing about theology: This current pandemic really makes you see more clearly than ever that the vast majority of TV preachers are snake oil salesmen. To claim that God wants everyone to be rich, healthy, and happy (and all will be unless they lack faith) is a money-grubbing travesty that will someday be judged severely. We are NOT promised the many things (typically extracted from specific circumstances in the OT) they promise. We are promised provision, peace in the storm, the Fruit of the Spirit , and that there would be hard times…but that He would be there the whole way through. That is where mom is right now…and He is with her day and night. So…given this, be patient. The best is yet to come. Be confident in His promises and expect His comfort. I would love to promise things will get better here…but it would make me no better than the guy asking for money on TV. Look toward heaven and rest in His promised peace until we arrive.
#EndALZ
Update: Nothing new to report. As is the new always…I will see her on Wednesday and will get very little info otherwise. 🙁 I am trying to be patient. 🙂
Diet Update: Lost another 2.6 this week. I am nearing 80 pounds lost now. 🙂 I am still shooting for 100 by November 1. I am right on track. 🙂
Dad Joke of the day:
The secret service isn’t allowed to yell “Get down!” anymore when the president is about to be attacked. Now they have to yell “Donald, duck!”