“The times they are a-changing,” Bob Dylan. Admittedly I’m not a fan of Dylan or similar songs of the era. I prefer, “I was happy in the haze of a drunken hour. But heaven knows I’m miserable now.” The Smiths. The musings of Dylan and songs from the ’60s do, however, carry extra weight during these difficult times. From a lyrical standpoint, political and protest songs serve as a reminder of that this, too, this COVID-19, this pandemic, will pass.
Unfortunately, until we are allowed to begin crafting a “new normal,” we all will need to dig deep and stay positive for our family, friends, and our own health. Once our elected leadership begins to remove the stay at home orders, which many states have started, we can then start the process of adapting to a coronavirus world ahead of a vaccine. We all know how to adapt. Changes in our health, finances, relationships, and life itself has prepared us to make the needed adjustments to fit our own lives and priorities. These are all things that will eventually happen. The question that none of us know the answer to is just how long will it be until life feels in any way normal?
At the moment, I believe most of us are hesitant or resistant to adjusting to a lockdown life and for good reason. What we are all experiencing isn’t sustainable on any level. I also believe most of us are waiting patiently and doing the best we can to stay sane while we wait it out. None of what we are living through should ever feel normal. Because of all of this, I have started to wonder what exactly life will look like post-lock downs and stay at home orders? Specifically, will any of us come out of this with a different view of the people around us and life in general?
I say this with absolutely no disrespect to anyone who has been negatively impacted by COVID-19. Whether its health, financial or mental stress, etc., this pandemic has been horrible on multiple fronts, and I absolutely acknowledge that. To be honest, even though I’m very blessed to be working, I’d be lying if I said that coronavirus hasn’t been mentally taxing on me, it has. Looking ahead, to that day when the headlines have little to mention of this current pandemic, I wonder what good will come out of this?
From observations being out in public, with sunny skies and warmer weather, I have already seen a considerable shift in public behavior. I do get tired of the “we are all in this together” labeling slapped on every radio and TV ad. However, there is some truth in those marketed words. I saw a story about bike sales soaring right now. We recently bought a new bike for our thirteen-year son. We know that Vitamin D (Sunlight) UV rays protect you from being further harmed if you get the virus and may even work against the virus.
Many people, including me, have turned off the news altogether, I read all my news now. People are clamoring to be with friends, family, and co-workers. People are desperate to watch, attend sports and group gatherings. While we’re not experiencing much if any love-in’s or kind smiles behind the masked faces and grocery stores and newly created one-way aisles. Outside, in parks, on bike and walking trails, in neighborhoods with families playing in the yard and sitting in driveways, people seem to wave, say hello and be generally happier to see their fellow men and women walk by their homes. My point is this. When all is said and done, what if? What if, in the end, we end up appreciating life a little more? We end up spending more time talking face to face with people (when we can again) What if we go out more? What if we appreciate God’s creation more? What if we spend less time online and more time outside with friends and family. What if we take care of our bodies better than before? What if we are all a little kinder to strangers we pass? What if people stopped tailgating on the freeway? 🙂 Can you tell me one other thing that could have impacted the world the way that coronavirus has? One other thing that could have potentially made the entire planet appreciate the smaller things in life and life in general more?
Romans 8:28 KJV And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Jon Justice is a conservative science fiction author and Iheart Radio talk show host. The EMBARK Trilogy, including the just-released third book in the series The Vanishing War, are available now on AMAZON and www.MyNerdWorld.Net