Corona virus

Well, we're smack dab in the middle of the Corona Pandemic right now across the country.
Every channel on TV has bad news for all of us, along with warnings regarding how to stay safe..

Those who are first responders or those who work in hospitals, dentists, clinic workers, are all at a great risk.
The poor clerks at the supermarket are trying their best to cope with all of the customers, one after the other, without any slow down.
I know that they are also being exposed to all types of people, with all types of germs.

Most churches are reaching their parishioners by using live video broadcasts so that we can all join together online to pray and hear scripture verses, even join in with singing songs.
It's a tough time, but we will get through it.  I just hope it doesn't take too long.

Young people had to come home from college, and I feel badly for those who were all set to graduate this year.  It will be a non-event, rather than the traditional celebration.
Those who have lost loved ones cannot even have large family gatherings during funerals.
The Corona virus has cut everything short and intruded into so many lives.

The news never lets up on TV and online with tips of what to do and how to stock up to get through a few weeks of staying home, only to go out to the grocery store.
The store employees are striving to get the job done, but a lot of shelves are empty, especially in the larger stores, such as WalMart.

I noticed that the expensive meats are still on the shelves, whereas the cheapest meats are being snatched up quickly.  The same goes for the dairy aisle.  The more expensive organic milk sits idly on the shelf.

After a couple of trips to my local markets I have come to the conclusion that everyone in New England lives on pasta and bottled spaghetti sauce, along with most types of bread.  Another nearly empty aisle in the market is the soup aisle.
I have taken to grabbing a few things that I've never tried in my life, just because the choices were slim.   Maybe this will open up a whole new way of trying new foods for me.
In any case, I must say that I have seen a lot of politeness in the stores, and people are respecting the requested 6 feet space away from other shoppers. 

There is a togetherness happening, which is great, and we see it in all emergencies.
Although people are anxious, they are showing strangers and friends that they care and many are offering part of their stash of food and paper products, willingly.

Amid all of our prayers, I believe that we will quickly conquer this terrible virus, which has already harmed so many families and taken so many lives.

Lord, keep us all safe.