The long haul

As a child, I enjoyed road trips with Mom and Dad – up to a point. As the hours wore on and I became tired and hungry, my interest waned. Instead of being an inquisitive youngster, I became a cranky passenger.

I knew better than to ask, “Are we there yet?” Nevertheless, I also made it clear that I just wanted to be done with the endless hours of highway travel. Mom and Dad heard me, loud and clear, but they kept going anyway. In fact, they wanted to arrive at their destination probably even more than I did.

Perhaps as this coronavirus drags on, we are all becoming a bit cranky. At the beginning of this pandemic, we knew we had a long road ahead of us, but I don’t think most people realized how long it would last. We watched the rising infection rates with mounting concern and mourned the deaths of those who succumbed to it.

As workplaces, schools and churches closed, we also adjusted to a new way of living, working and even praying. For many people, working at home was something new.

Families perforce experienced new levels of togetherness as children stayed home from school and studied remotely. Sunday Mass came into our homes via livestreaming and other electronic means. By fits and starts, we learned the importance of wearing face masks and of using hand-sanitizers and other forms of disinfectants.

Then came the process of reopening. It proved to be much more challenging than closing down. How to do so safely remains the big question. At times, the guidance received from medical professionals and various government officials was inconsistent. From the start, it was clear that the reopening of businesses, schools and workplaces had to be done with the utmost care – and that there would be a fair amount of disagreement about what constitutes “utmost care.” Getting everyone to comply with basic safety measures is not easy.

These and other factors have combined to make our journey through the year 2020 seem like a never-ending road trip with an uncertain destination. On such a journey, it is easy for us to become cranky passengers.

I offer this incomplete, thumbnail sketch of these past months, not to conjure up their unpleasantness, but rather to set the stage for the journey that lies ahead. It could take a lot longer than we think or hope for us to set aside precautions and to move about freely.

One thing is certain: there will be no shortage of advice and directives in the months ahead. However, if we wish to eliminate the crankiness factor, then we have to gear up spiritually for the next leg of this uncertain journey. How do we do this? Let me offer a few modest suggestions.

First, we have to fast and pray for an end to this pandemic. We are rooting for the medical professionals to come up with a vaccine and effective treatment, but we should also be begging the Lord to remove this scourge from us. The evil one will tempt us to think that God does not listen. Our prayer must be full of faith, persistent and humble. 

Second, through prayer, we must maintain a supernatural perspective. By keeping our eyes fixed on the Lord, we are better able to focus on what we need to do here and now to protect our loved ones and to serve the common good. As St. Paul wrote, “God makes all things work together for the good of those who love him” (Rom 8:28). 

Third, we will be better equipped for the long haul if we have empathy for others. The pandemic has upended everyone’s lives, but some have suffered more than others. When we have a heart for the sufferings of others and reach out to help, we put our own burdens in a better perspective.

Fourth, we need to help one another through this. This includes our family members and loved ones but also our neighbors, friends, co-workers and even people outside our comfort zone.

As my father long ago said to me, “This will go a lot quicker if you cheer up.” 

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