COVID-19
This year everything turned odd, quirky, strange or bizarre, even tragic—anything but normal, and by June, most of us were ready to give up on the year, flip the calendar, and move on to 2021. Gay Pride was no exception. Throughout the world, all things Pride were shut down, canceled, or reduced to a virtual reality online, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whether the wrath of the storm-crossed sea, or demons or men or whatever it be, we’re looking for something, anything, to hold onto these days—an anchor or two that will hold the ship of state steady rather than trying to pull it apart, and to do it with facts that come from a credible source.
When I first heard the word “coronavirus,” I had flashbacks to the early days of the AIDS crisis, and something told me to take this seriously, and I’ve followed Dr. Anthony Fauci like a prophet guiding us through this crisis.
We must make choices that will decide which way we go, to look inward and be brutally honest with ourselves, to focus less on our rights and more on our should, and then to stop…and listen…listen to others…to really understand things as they see it through their eyes…to admit we don’t know, we don’t have all the answers, and our only hope to get through this is Christlike love—for us and our fellow man.
The need to stay connected has never been more important than it has been amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. From our chapters to the international organization, the Affirmation community is doing so much to meet this need in new ways that are likely to become a part of Affirmation for many years to come.
All of us have been seriously affected by this evil little microbe, from rationing our toilet paper to being out of a job to a sudden and painful death of a person close to us. Fortunately, I’m better off than many others. I have plenty of TP, I’m retired, and I don’t know anyone close who’s suffered from it. I’ve also tested negative, and I stay six feet away from others and wear a mask whenever I make a run for essentials. But my biggest loss during this stay-at-home order—the issue that hits me where it really hurts—is not having someone to cuddle.
For those who believe that Joseph indeed saw God the Father and Jesus Christ and seek to partake of the restored gospel, we are subject to the whims of those who have been called to lead the Church and must find a balance in living a full and fulfilling life without risking our relationship with and activity in the Church that we believe is important.
A prophet is sometimes as clueless as we are. We don’t know why God asks us to do something that makes no sense, but we have faith that we’ll understand somewhere down the line, because that’s how faith usually works.
In times like these, community is so important. We know that there may be many in our community feeling anxious and isolated right now. We are blessed to be living in a time where we can continue to connect with others through various technological channels and that includes connecting with the Affirmation Community.