On Holidays in a Pandemic

It’s supposed to be a holiday weekend. It’s supposed to be a time and an excuse to take it easy, spend time with family, and rest.

Except we are in the midst of a global pandemic.

As we watch cases numbers rise, hear about travel bans, and testimonies that the case numbers are only going to rise, it seems like there is no time to rest. There is no way of avoiding or getting away from where we are. The pandemic is not gone. The cries of protest to examine systemic and historical racism have not stopped.

It’s getting more and more difficult to escape into distraction and avoidance.

Thanks be to God.

Thanks be to God that we can’t hide from our role and our responsibility to take care of each other, to fight for equality, and to work to bring the ecosystem of God here on earth. Thanks be to God that we are being challenged again and again to consider the way our decisions impact others. Thanks be to God that we are having to pause and reflect on the choices we make. Thanks be to God that capitalism is being brought into questions. Thanks be to God that we can’t live the way we used to live.

May God watch over all the essential workers who are bearing the burden of our attempts to hide and distract ourselves.