In only a few months everything seems to have changed. I am not only referring to health-related precautions and the economic upheaval taking place around us, but I am actually referring to sea of changes in what the world valued before the Coronavirus and what the world seems to be valuing as the Coronavirus progresses and hopefully dissipates. Who are the heroes that are looked up to? Just recently professional athletes, entertainers, and politicians were held in the highest regard in society. Now the term “hero” is being used more appropriately for healthcare workers, educators, and even people who are dedicated to stocking the shelves of grocery stores. If you asked people what they are grateful for, many might now respond with a greater appreciation for health, family, and life’s simple pleasures.
The external focus outside the home has turned around 180 degrees with everyone’s focus now on what’s going on inside the home. While some people used to love going out for food or entertainment or even a spiritual event now a Zoom call or study session with friends or relatives and sharing a meal with family around the dinner table is a big treat. Since commuting and driving far distances are no longer common, taking a walk by yourself or with your family while social distancing is no longer taken for granted as simply exercise but can be seen as an opportunity to literally stop and smell the roses, observe the wildlife, and appreciate G-d’s creation in a more pristine and unpolluted state.
As we see those stricken with Coronavirus at its most dangerous stages struggle to breathe, the simple ability to breathe becomes that much more important to us. We are all understandably more concerned about the health of our elders who are in a much higher risk category than many others. The fragility of life and our mortality have rarely been as palpable as they are currently. As a result, many of us make more calls to our relatives and loved ones to check in with them more frequently. We can reconnect with old acquaintances and friends and perhaps, more importantly, we may even reach out to resolve old, unhealed wounds with others from our past during this time when our egos are going on a hubris and arrogance diet and replacing our character flaws with more humility and self-reflection with greater self-awareness.
The Coronavirus seems to be bringing out at times the best and at times the worst in people, but for the most part, it feels like we are having a global lesson in humility and lack of control of events in life. It is astounding that politicians that could barely speak to each other a short time ago are now forced to at least pretend to play nicely with each other in the political sandbox in countries all around the world including the United States and Israel. Entire countries are starting to realize that everyone’s success is dependent largely upon the overall success of humanity to combat the challenge of the Coronavirus which is becoming more and more the great equalizer for us all.
As Rahm Emanuel famously said, “never waste a crisis”. Let’s try to maximize this opportunity to do our best to try and control the things we can and compassionately model for our children and others resilience, attention to family, and appreciation so we can emerge on the other side of this pandemic more panempathetic as individuals and as a society as members of an even more closely, interconnected world. We may look back someday at this period of time as B.C. and A.C. – Before Corona and After Corona. Hopefully, if we bring out the potential goodness that sometimes only can emerge at times of challenge, we will look back at this time from a more Utopian perspective instead of what now feels like a more Dystopian reality that we are living through.
While there are many perplexing spiritual, emotional, and economic questions that have no easy answers emerging daily while traveling along this journey, it is comforting to know that many people are trying to connect with each other via technology to accompany each other at least virtually along our journeys even as physical distancing becomes the new normal in society around the world. Thank you for joining me in my own journey.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Elisha Paul
P.S. – Please view this moving video called “The Great Realization” that Ariela Davis shared with the AHA staff today by clicking here.
