{"id":1734,"date":"2020-04-18T02:56:21","date_gmt":"2020-04-18T02:56:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/yourmorningcupofinspiration\/?p=1734"},"modified":"2020-08-14T02:11:13","modified_gmt":"2020-08-14T02:11:13","slug":"are-you-passing-the-pandemic-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/yourmorningcupofinspiration\/2020\/04\/are-you-passing-the-pandemic-test.html","title":{"rendered":"Are You Passing the Pandemic Test?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"pandemic\"<\/a>
Photo by cottonbro from Pexels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you are of a certain age, you might remember the occasional interruption we used to have when watching TV.\u00a0 Unexpectedly, the show would stop, the screen would go blank, and then you would see and hear these words, \u201cThis is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System.\u00a0 This is only a test. \u00a0If this had been an actual emergency\u2026\u201d\u00a0 It was sort of amusing.\u00a0 Because there never was an actual emergency\u2026<\/p>\n

Well, now, years later, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are in the midst of an actual<\/em> emergency.\u00a0 For those of us who didn\u2019t live through a world war, this is our first<\/em> real emergency.\u00a0 Yes, September 11th<\/sup> was an emergency, but it was very localized.\u00a0 Only three areas of the United States were affected.\u00a0 This emergency spans not only across the United States, but across the globe.<\/p>\n

However, this pandemic isn\u2019t just an emergency.\u00a0 It is also a test.<\/em>\u00a0 It is a test of whether each of us is willing to be inconvenienced for the greater good.\u00a0 Unfortunately, there are some people who are failing that test.<\/p>\n

The Pandemic Test of Sacrifice<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Recently, I have seen reports of individuals who are protesting being quarantined.\u00a0 They feel that their rights are being trampled upon.\u00a0 These folks feel that their right to sunbathe at the beach is very important.\u00a0 They feel that their right to go to church and worship with other people is also important.\u00a0 And I agree that those rights are important.<\/p>\n

But those rights aren\u2019t as important<\/em> as our primary obligation to protect society\u2019s most vulnerable.\u00a0 Fulfilling that obligation is what makes us decent human beings<\/em>.\u00a0 Unfortunately, many in our society are annoyed by this obligation and its requisite sacrifices.<\/p>\n

In my own state, the governor recently said that people have complained to his office about our school closures.\u00a0 They want their kids to return to school immediately<\/em>.\u00a0 I should point out that my state has one of the highest numbers of Covid-19 cases in the country.\u00a0 It is beyond me how could any responsible parent would want to send their child back to school at this point.\u00a0 And yet, they do.\u00a0 Having to home school their children is a sacrifice that they don’t want to make.<\/p>\n

The Test of Values\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Similarly, parents don’t want their children to miss all the end of year festivities due to the pandemic restrictions.\u00a0 I have an 18-year-old high school senior, and some parents are fretting about their children missing out on a formal graduation and the prom.\u00a0 I find that hard to believe.\u00a0 People are sick and dying daily from this illness.\u00a0 The last thing that I am concerned about is whether my child will be able to walk on stage to receive her diploma or toss her graduation cap in the air.\u00a0 Yes, that would be a nice experience.\u00a0 But not at the cost of hundreds of kids (and their parents) getting infected with this illness due to attending a graduation ceremony.<\/p>\n

The bottom line:\u00a0 This is a test.\u00a0 It is a test of your values.\u00a0 It is a test of what you think is truly important.\u00a0 And it is a test of whether you are willing to sacrifice for others.<\/p>\n

The Pandemic Test of Mental Toughness<\/h3>\n

The World War II generation, known as the Greatest Generation, understood the value of sacrifice.\u00a0 They made huge sacrifices for the benefit of other people.\u00a0 And they did it without whining.\u00a0 They weren\u2019t concerned about their ability to get a cup of coffee at Starbucks or whether they could go to the beach.\u00a0 It was a generation who were willing to make real sacrifices<\/em> for others.\u00a0 They went to war and made life and death sacrifices for the betterment of society.<\/p>\n

By comparison, we are being asked to do very little.\u00a0 Being confined to our homes is not a major catastrophe.\u00a0 Not being able to go to church or out to dinner is not a tragedy.\u00a0 These are merely inconveniences<\/em>.\u00a0 That is all.\u00a0 And having your kids home from school may be a little bit irritating, but it isn\u2019t a reason to complain to your elected officials.<\/p>\n

Of course, there are real stressors involved in this pandemic.\u00a0 Being out of work is stressful.\u00a0 Having an ill family member is stressful.\u00a0 Worrying about how you are going to pay your bills is stressful.\u00a0 But complaining because you can\u2019t go away for spring break or enjoy dinner at your favorite restaurant is simply first world whining.<\/p>\n

Who Is Passing the Test?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The good news is that while some people are failing the Pandemic Test, others are passing it with flying colors.\u00a0 Our healthcare workers, grocery clerks, and delivery people are getting straight As.\u00a0 For example, there is a young lady who regularly delivers groceries to my elderly mother.\u00a0 She is responsible and thoughtful, and she understands the importance of her job.\u00a0 She gets a gold star in my book.\u00a0 And frankly, anyone who practices social distancing and is staying home gets an A+, as well.<\/p>\n

Of course, we can make up all kinds of excuses as to why we shouldn\u2019t have to make these sacrifices.\u00a0 We can argue that statistically speaking, there are many things that are far deadlier than coronavirus.\u00a0 So, why should we have to quarantine ourselves in our homes?\u00a0 We can argue that the health of our economy is more important than the number of people who may die from this virus.\u00a0 So why should our shops be closed?\u00a0 We can argue that being asked to stay home is a violation of our constitutional right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.<\/p>\n

Or, we can stop being so profoundly selfish.\u00a0 We can stop coming up with excuses for why we can\u2019t do something as simple as stay at home so that other people don\u2019t have to die<\/em>.\u00a0 We can be the kind of society that cares for its most vulnerable because it is the right thing to do.<\/em><\/p>\n

This is a defining moment in history.\u00a0 And at the end of this pandemic, each of us will need to take a long hard look at ourselves and ask, \u201cDid I pass the Pandemic Test?\u00a0 Did I rise to the occasion and sacrifice for my fellow man?\u201d\u00a0 Each of us should hope that by the end of this pandemic, we will be getting an A.<\/p>\n

Email: meerabelle@meerabelledey.com<\/p>\n

If you would like to receive my Free E-Book, “The Confidence Course,” and sign up for my weekly newsletter, go to meerabelledey.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you are of a certain age, you might remember the occasional interruption we used to have when watching TV.\u00a0 Unexpectedly, the show would stop, the screen would go blank, and then you would see and hear these words, \u201cThis is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System.\u00a0 This is only a test. \u00a0If this…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":593,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1734","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nAre You Passing the Pandemic Test? - Your Morning Cup of Inspiration<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Are you passing the pandemic test, the most important test of our generation? 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