As you may have heard by now, our “social distancing” guidelines (as a country) have been extended to April 30.
For me, this all but answers a few lingering questions. In my opinion - and take it with a grain of salt - MHSAA athletics for the spring is all but canceled. So will be the current school year, proms, 'scheduled' graduation ceremonies, and all the works. A few states, those hit hardest with COVID-19, have already canceled the current school year. I believe Mississippi is not far off from doing the same.
But, there are still factors that haven’t been considered into the equation. How far are we to a vaccine? Are there mediations on the market already that will have a high success rate? How accurate is the data that predicts our peak in dealing with the virus? And so on.
All this could change rapidly if any of those unknown factors come into play.
There are still a lot of unknowns.
There are still a lot of questions to be answered.
How to handle social distancing?
Let me start by saying this - stay at home as much as possible.
But, I’m also not one of those shouting, “Get inside and lock your doors!”
Recently, I read on the CDC’s website that enclosed indoor areas are the worst place to be when trying to avoid catching the virus. If you are like me, in a household of two “essential employees,” and a child that goes to daycare three times a week at the least, we stay outside as much as possible when we are at home.
My outside activities include yard work, fishing at the lake, turkey hunting, grilling, and more. Find a safe way to get outdoors. You'll not only reduce your risk of catching COVID-19, but you'll also maintain your sanity.
Wash your hands regularly, use hand sanitizer often, breathe, pray, and trust in God.
You can take all the precautions you can and still manage to catch the virus. I don’t say that to scare you, but it’s like anything else. Panic only kills your joy in the present.
I understand there can be a lot of worry about, as a guy who suffers from anxiety and depression at times, I know the struggle. But, if I can maintain a level head amid a crisis, so can you.
It also helps tremendously to trust in an all-knowing and sovereign God. I'm not always the perfect model of a Christ-follower, then again, who is? But let know share my favorite scriptures for the times we are currently facing: "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. ARE YOU NOT OF MORE VALUE THAN THEY? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." - Matthew 6:26-34
In all caps is the most beautiful phrase from Christ in those verses. Reread it, and let it soak in.
