Through the Prism: May You Live in Interesting Times

For the historical record, we are now in the midst of the Covid-19 virus pandemic. Probably still in the early stages. Everything has been incrementally shut down the past few weeks where we live as the spread we've been reading about elsewhere for a couple of months started infiltrating our areas. People are to stay at home except for essential functions to avoid as much contact as possible, thus preventing further spread. The numbers of sick and dead are minimal so far, but it's impossible to say how well the containment efforts will work. School has been called off, most businesses closed, all sports and recreation cancelled. We're "sheltering in place." Working from home where possible. Some have responded with panic by hoarding toilet paper, sanitizer, and non-perishables. Others think the efforts are a silly overreaction and have ignored the orders to stay in. Some are more worried about the sagging economy than loss of life. Most are rightfully worried about how they will manage without income if they can't work from home.

Our household has been quietly anxious. We've taken the warnings seriously and were early adopters of "social distancing," but have still gone to the store for food and such when needed. Our youngest is still going to a reduced-attendance preschool that has implemented best safety practices. The kindergartner has just started home learning. I'm able to work remotely. My spouse is still figuring out what she's going to do with her minimally-essential medical job. Our immunocompromised roommate and honorary brother/uncle has hard quarantined himself to the basement. Everything is different and all feels strange.

Even though we've maintained good spirits and normal routines where possible, it's clear the children are feeling the anxiety to some extent. Yesterday when I picked up the four-year-old from school, he . . . wait, first a bit of backstory. Recently I've read the boys the humorous book Wedgie and Gizmo, which is alternately narrated by a guinea pig and a dog. The guinea pig is a self-branded evil genius and dreams of world domination. The dog is exuberant and dim, and calls his mate a "furry potato." The boys have taken to calling it the furry potato book. So . . . yesterday when I picked up the four-year-old from school, he said, "During naptime today I thought about how the furry potato has created the sickness."

"Because he's evil?"

"Yeah, it's part of his evil plan."

"And that's the story you told yourself instead of sleeping?"

"No, it's not a story, it's real!"

"I see."

"Luckily, everything in our house is mighty, so our family might just be able to stop him."

(Mighty being the Paw Patrol terminology for superpowers.)

He doesn't actually believe the "furry potato" or mighty powers are real, but he's clearly struggling to process everything that's been going on in terms he can understand.

Just like the rest of us.

"May you live in interesting times" is always shared as "an ancient Chinese curse." It's not, of course, but it still seems appropriate to the circumstances. Most of the time we complain when life is mundane, banal, and boring, wishing something "interesting" would happen. Yet we forget that "interesting" things are often tumultuous, difficult, and tragic. In comparison, everyday life can seem a blessing.

These are interesting times, indeed.

A few of my early Facebook posts when things started getting cancelled and it became apparent all was not going to be normal:

Fear is dangerous.
Fear can override love, kindness, compassion, and community.
What are we afraid of right now?

1. Don't panic
2. Don't begrudge others their desire to stay safe
3. Don't resist public health initiatives
4. It's not about you, but the herd
5. Stay informed (with valid information; verify)

The world is going to pause now so we can focus on taking care of each other for a while. Normalcy will eventually return. For now we get to sample a different kind of life and value system.

I've decided to mark the passage of time (for now, at least) by not shaving.

I think what happens next will be influenced by the interplay of these dynamics.

American Individualism vs. Loving Your Neighbor

The problem is not only with the corporations struggling to make choices when profits are on the line. As a culture infused with the values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, Americans value individualism and have a hard time understanding their role in community health measures. When we are taught to prioritize our individual rights and needs (see the discussions about guns, vaccines, and universal health care), it quickly leads to seeing other people as our enemy instead of a neighbor to protect. And that’s where religious communities must lead. . . .

Christians can be at the forefront of rejecting extreme individualism and lean into a collectivist worldview where each person is seen as made in the image of God and worth protecting at all costs. . . .

As the next long weeks of isolation stretch out, I can rest knowing we are all in this together, and that as a Christian, slowing the spread of suffering and prioritizing the needs of the community over my own is a part of my tradition of faithfulness.

So far there's been both an amazing show of solidarity and a dismaying lack of it. We'll have to see which prevails.

My review of Wedgie and Gizmo:

A tale of conflict and cooperation narrated in turns by a vile villain and loving guardian.

The evil genius:

I do not blame the Elderly One for wanting to eat me. I am meaty, and I possess a fine round rump. There is no doubt in my mind that I would taste delicious. But my destiny is not to be stewed!

The heroic champion:

Elliot puts my poop in a bag and carries it around. He must like the smell of poop as much as I do. And because I'm a superhero, my poop smells super poopy. I LOVE Elliot!

Gizmo is a guinea pig and Wedgie a dog, and they have just come together from different sides of a new blended family. Each offers a perfectly egocentric version of the tale, sharing only his perspective and concerns. Mixed in are bits of human conversation the pets overhear, and through that dialogue readers get the bigger picture of the two families adjusting to each other. Gizmo, Elliot, and Dad have just moved in with Wedgie, Jasmine, Jackson, Mom, and Abuela. The three stories weave together wonderfully, Gizmo's dreams of world domination, Wedgie's enthusiasm for existence, and the people's--particularly Elliot's--struggles adapting to a new life. All given even more life with excellent illustrations.

Hilarious and relatable.

At least this is happening at the start of spring and not winter so we can get outside easily.

Aside from that, we've been . . .

Glued to our phones for news updates.

Keeping track of the ever-increasing numbers of sick and dead.

Reading horror stories from those in the trenches.

Trying to convince everyone it's about protecting society, not individuals.

Trying to keep skittishly diverted.

Trying to convince some this has nothing to be with being Chinese.

Sacrificing so much we've lost track of Lent.

Asking ourselves, "Am I essential?"

And, "What do I do if I'm not?"