Stay Together
Our streets are less trafficked these days. Places of business have fewer customers. Many are closed. These are strange times in which we’re living. Most countries have policies in place for the protection of citizens from COVID-19, the coronavirus that is making its way through our populations. Unfortunately, these policies separate us from one another. We may avoid the disease of COVID-19 only to suffer from isolation and, in some cases, loneliness.
I’m reminded of a funny story about a tour group whose bus let them off across the street from a famous basilica surrounded by several lanes of relentless traffic. They spread out along the curb to try to cross the street when there was a break in the traffic. Some were darting out when they spotted their opportunity.
“Stay together!” the frantic tour guide shouted. “Stay together! "You cross one by one, they hit you one by one. But if you cross together, they think you will hurt the car!"
I think that is good advice in these unusual times. The best thing we can do is to stay together. It means helping out somebody who is out of work. It means sharing with someone who needs what you have - food, supplies or even some of your time. Stay together.
We work so hard to keep ourselves safe. Staying away from others. Washing our hands. It’s easy to forget that the most important thing we humans can ever do is to reach out to each other. Just a phone call that says, “I’m thinking about you. How can I help?” Stay together.
I love bouquets of roses. But the reality is that they won’t last long without roots. Cut flowers die. And when I’m cut off from others, I die a little on the inside every day. So we need to stay connected.. Especially at this time - stay together.
Who needs you today?
-- Steve Goodier
Image: flickr.com/Brian Evans
