Anxiety is high in the US and around the world. Anxiety is higher than normal in Michigan this since the stay-at-home orders have come down form the governor. This is like a cover on a boiling pot. It can either explode or simmer down depending on the heat that is thrown on the fire. Who throws that heat onto the fire is each person. We stoke our fires.
"I'm not anxious" is a statement I hear a lot or "I don't have anxiety". Unfortunately, mental health issues are seen as a weakness and those who need the help, especially now, are not finding the help.
Our society has become a society that places blame everywhere in order to survive. I know that I place blame on others for little things that I cannot control. My daughter doesn't sleep though the night. Other's don't follow deadlines. The police are too picky with speed limit overage. The stores charge too much for pop. It is easy to place blame when it is something I cannot control or I don't want to control. Could I work on a sleep pattern with my daughter, yes. Could I ignore her cries at night, yes. Could I follow the speed limits on the roadways, yes. Could I set up boundary lines that I don't work around to please everyone, yes. Are there things I could do that I choose to blame others for, yes.
I think we all do.
Do I blame the governor for taking away my rights? I could say yes and call there all these names. I could say she is doing it for the good of the state. I could go off blaming democrats for this or the republicans for that. I could go off and blame those still going to store, to parks, and protesting or I could look at myself and what I am doing.
I/We, in my household, have chosen to abide by the stay-at-home as much as possible. However, we have not been strict about it. We have chosen to support local establishments that are still open for meals out, chains and local. I have run to the local grocery stores and gone inside as well as opted for pick up from a big box store. I carry hand sanitizer in the car and use it as well as wear my mask at the store and when we go in to pick up food. My husband is still working and he is taking precautions when he comes home. We are not visiting family that does not live with us. We take walks around the block and converse with neighbors, from a safe distance. We also go for drives when being in the house is just too much to handle anymore. We are blessed with the options we have during this time. We worship from home with our current pastor and a former one. I would say more "church" happens in this home since the pandemic hit than before.
Social media is a soul sucking medium that I allow into my life. Often I have to distance from it in order to get things done. You can find out what is happening in almost every state just by looking at the video feature on Facebook. One can also find worship services from all over the world, reflections from pastors, seminarians and others. One can find the conspiracy theories, commentaries, reruns of news feeds and late night monologues, and individual rants and raves. Groups to support your thoughts and beliefs abound. Even Facebook has joined the bandwagon to intercede with warnings for false information about the virus and other videos shared online.
I am overwhelmed by the number of forwarded videos and posts I have received in the last month. (Just an FYI 99.9% of what is sent to me dies a lonely death in my inbox if it is not a personal message.) I have blocked certain websites and posting parties, stopped following a few sites, and wish I could figure out how to block a few people from seeing the posts I put on Facebook (haha).
This week has come to a apex (I hope) in people's tolerance or intolerance for others. Finding a scapegoat is the way many cope. In an article written by Rev. Dr. Craig Nessan, he references Rene Girard who states that "scapegoating" is often done in times of high anxiety. Those who commit the scapegoating "genuinely believe their course of action to be justified" (Nessen, 396) and that is ringing true in our pandemic situation here. Some Michiganders, and others around the US, are blaming the governor and calling her everything from a tyrant to Hitler for the newest stay-at-home order because they are upset they cannot use motorboats or buy flowers and seeds at big box stores over 50,000 square feet. Thousands traveled to the state capital, some drove over 300 miles, and caused "gridlock" in the capital. The original idea was to stay in your car, drive slow, social distance, and be respectful to the medical community. The idea, though intentions were positive, did not come to fruition as people gathered on the lawn, didn't use protective gear, and mingled within six feet of each other. Even police were seen without the protective gear. Reports of medical workers and ambulances not being able to get to the local hospital were reported and it is a level 1 trauma hospital from what I read.
How have we come to this point in our society? A rhetorical question because the answer is too disheartening to want to know for sure. Why do we allow ourselves to look at what is good for use compared to the good of society.
I am trying to take the governor and her colleagues at their word that this is all for the good of the people and the restrictions will be lifted and all the "freedomes" will come back when things settle down. Will that be in two weeks, a month, a year, or longer. Do I even want things to go back to "normal"? What is normal? Should it go back to normal?
Some things I would like to come out of this situation?
1. Seeing smiles from others again.
2. Visiting family and human contact with loved ones.
3. Keep spending time as a family unit, eating together.
4. Worshiping in person with others in a physical place and visiting other congregations.
5. Not running the rat race of activities, meetings, work, and "life".
6. Going out to eat and a movie
I pray that we all survive this time of high anxiety and fear. I pray that we can come together as a human family and unite behind those who are vulnearable. I pray we will all give each other some grace to just be.
Thank you to all who are working to be contientious of our fellow humans. Thank you to all those who are on the front lines and don't have the option to not work and not stay home. Thank you to all who are looking out for their fellow humans even if others are not looking out for themselves.
Thank you all!
Blessings
Melissa
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