In a season of explosions that kill hundreds of people, wildfires destroying millions of dollars worth of property, viruses taking the world by storm and shutting down events that have been happening for centuries, you’d think that we as fellow humans wouldn’t care too much when there are things that make our life a little uncomfortable.
There is so much tragedy happening in the world, yet someone tells us that we need to wear a mask and we freak out. People are starving to death and someone tells us that we can’t do something we used to be able to do and we go crazy screaming the constitution at them.
Today I was told that someone I came into contact with had COVID and it was recommended to me that I don’t see anyone outside my household until I either tested for COVID or quarantined for two weeks. My initial reaction legitimately was one of a lack of understanding. I didn’t understand why I couldn’t meet because someone else I barely came into contact with tested positive.
My next feeling was of annoyance. I just wanted to live my life and here someone was telling me that I was not being thoughtful if I continued going and seeing multiple groups.
This isn’t a post to validate your feelings about if COVID should or shouldn’t be taken seriously, or what measures should or shouldn’t be taken to protect against it, but it’s simply a post to confess how selfish I often am. Neither of my first two thoughts were “what’s the thing I can do to best help others, they were both selfish thoughts about why MY life was being interrupted. My first thoughts weren’t even “I hope the person who got it is okay.”
Regardless of how you feel about COVID, I encourage you to check your heart about why you’re not willing to do things. Is it from a pure motive, or is it because you don’t want interruptions in your comfortable, easy life?
I had to check myself today, and I’m afraid I ended up in the second category.