COVID-19 Prep Africa
Dr. Daniel Ahui (left), a specialist in infectious and tropical diseases and director of Dabou United Methodist Hospital in Dabou, Côte d'Ivoire, trains pharmacy and laboratory staff on how to deal with suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases. Although there are no cases of the coronavirus in this city yet, the hospital is taking steps to avoid being caught off guard, according to a United Methodist News Service article. (Photo by Isaac Broune, UM News)
A United Methodist Insight Column
Hope you’re paying some attention to “Earth Day Live,” a massive online event by 350.org, the environmental advocacy organization founded by United Methodist layman Bill McKibben. Designed and anchored by young people, the three-day virtual gathering is covering a wide range of climate change and related issues, include the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19.
A highlight of Monday’s schedule for me was the appearance of the Rev. Dr. William Barber and the Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, co-chairs of the Poor People’s Campaign – A National Call for Moral Revival. Equipped with staggering statistics and spiritually-based motivation, both clerics drew clear lines from the coronavirus pandemic and climate change to the privations suffered by communities of color and of poverty. In short, they made the same assertions that many United Methodists are making: that poverty, hunger, ill health and more are symptoms of the same interrelated oppressions of race, economics, gender and more.
In particular Drs. Barber and Theoharis pointed out that the key to making widespread moral and ethical changes in society is to “change the narrative” – that is, refuting political, economic and social allegations about who and what is responsible for the climate crisis and its currently presenting issue, the coronavirus pandemic. If this idea sounds vaguely familiar, it’s because “changing the narrative” was at the heart of Jesus message. Specifically Jesus drew on one of the most important scriptures of his Jewish heritage, Isaiah, to announce that his ministry was one of bringing justice to those oppressed. It’s not a big leap today to see how climate change hits poor communities hardest, and how more communities of color are infected with COVID-19 because of poor health care.
There are two more days of “Earth Day Live” online. It’s worth a look.
Count your blessings
I came across something in my daily internet wanderings that I hadn’t heard of before: a mental exercise called “Three Blessings,” described in a Washington Post article “Anxiety is high because of coronavirus. Here’s how you can feel better” by Katy Milkman. Apparently, many psychologists are recommending it now as a way to counteract the pervasive anxiety we’re feeling about the coronavirus pandemic.
Designed by Martin Seligman, Ph.D., founder of the positive psychology movement, the idea is to pick three positive or happy circumstances and write them down, along with what caused them to happen. Then when anxiety rears its head, one can consult one’s “three blessings” to get re-oriented away from non-productive, scary thinking.
Given the state of our world right now, it’s worth a try – along with the classic Christian practice of daily prayer.
Feel the grief
Coping with anxiety is one thing. Grieving is something entirely different, and most of us are grieving for someone or something right now. On Next Avenue, a website for seniors, life coach Jill Smolowe urges people not to push away grieving, but to embrace its pain and discomfort as the road to healing.
In her article, “Managing Anticipatory Grief,” Ms. Smolowe, a grief and divorce coach, writes: “A profound sadness has settled over our planet. Whether it’s the loss of visits with loved ones, the loss of steady work and income, the loss of our usual routines or the full-stop loss of a person in our life whose own life has been extinguished by COVID-19, grief is now a part of our daily landscape. … So, let’s not deny it.”
She gives several tips for how to grieve in healthy ways, especially by not comparing one’s own grief to that of another. Everyone has a right to grieve for what they’ve lost, and it doesn’t matter if our own losses seem less tragic than another person’s. Her article is worth a look for that idea alone.
Next Avenue has a good package of articles aimed at seniors on dealing with the coronavirus, but don’t let it’s “senior” status be an obstacle. Wisdom is wisdom, however old you are.
Emergency response team donates supplies
The Desert Southwest Conference Emergency Response Team donated Protection Equipment from the Disaster Response trailer to the Navajo Nation, hard hit by COVID-19. Thirty N-95 masks and 175 TyVek suits were delivered to the Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock, NM, according to the post DSC Emergency Response Team Supply Donation on the conference website.
The Navajo Nation is one of the many indigenous communities hard hit by COVID-19 (another example of the lead item). So good on you, Desert Southwest, for doing as much as you can for your neighbors!
Media Mentions April 22, 2020
Arkansas Bishop named to state's reopening task force – Arkansas Annual Conference
Church hospitals race to prepare for the coronavirus – UM News
Military chaplains deployed in pandemic – UM News
The House chaplain’s pointed coronavirus message – CNN
NYC medical ethicist: It’s time we learned to talk about death – Religion & Politics
On Earth Day, pope says nature will not forgive our trespasses –Reuters
In call with religious leaders on re-opening churches, Trump sought election support – Crux
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011. Share news of your congregation or annual conference around the coronavirus pandemic.