Day 141 of coronavirus in France
Day 6 of de-confinement after 55 days of enforced confinement
Choose an attitude of life.
In our circle we are voicing boldly that our personal sacrifices for the good of society are another way to put other’s interest ahead of ourselves.
We refuse to let the toxic polemic take root in our hearts.
Basic Human Rights
What is a Human Right? Air, water, respect, safety and most of all life. The highest human right is the right to live. When I learn to drive, I learn the traffic regulations that keep me and others safe. Driving my car on the sidewalk or inside a mall is not a human right because it puts someone else in danger.
When I was born in the 70’s people were protesting “No shoes, no shirt, no service” on the basis that it was discrimination against undesirable hippie clients. They called it an infringement on rights. (source) But over the last few decades “No shoes no shirt no service” has become an unquestioned standard in hygiene, respect, and modesty.
Self Moderation
Today people are submerged under a thousand griefs. The world is unaccustomed to grieving so many losses simultaneously including loss of control and loss of dreams. We need a greater understanding of their identity in Christ and the marvelous emotions that he created in order to anchor our strength in the only Rock that does not change.
My virtual youth group tomorrow will be continuing through Hebrews and as an application we’ll be discovering the mechanics of emotion and learning to anticipate triggers ahead of time in order to sneak up on emotions before they sneak up on us.
Religious freedom
Freedom of thought is not inhibited by the physical circumstances.
Personally I haven’t seen anything that could be classified as “religious liberty disappearing.” Only a mandate to gather in small groups instead of large groups. In our setting that means our church gatherings need to be ten or less. Which is forcing our group of twenty to spin off into new groups and it has been my conviction for a while now that the smaller groups will result in better discipleship and deeper relationships.
An Attitude of Freedom
When restrictions are tightest, we still have the freedom to choose our attitude. Like these preschool children laughing and having a good time playing a game that blends “Follow the leader” with “Simon says.” Two great classics that we can still play on the playground. (source-translate this page and read the heartwarming story of kids and teachers reunited and choosing an attitude of freedom)
“The last of the human freedoms: to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. And there were always choices to make. Every day, every hour, offered the opportunity to make a decision, a decision which determined whether you would or would not submit to those powers which threatened to rob you of your very self, your inner freedom; which determined whether or not you become the plaything to circumstance, renouncing freedom and dignity…”
― Victor Frankl, Man’s Search For Ultimate Meaning
Count your blessings
Start a journal of three new things you are thankful for each day.
Things I just discovered this week…
Partial Immunity & Relapses
There have been several reports of people catching the virus multiple times. One of the French mayors has caught the virus twice. He reassures us that the second time he was only sick for two days and it was a much milder case because he already had the anti-bodies built up from the first time. South Korea has documented multiple relapses. (source)
Serious Symptoms in Children
In Paris 125 children have been hospitalized with the COVID-19, but the virus has attacked their heart and vascular system instead of their lungs. These children with severe symptoms resembling Kawasaki are none-the-less categorized as asymptomatic because the official symptoms list has already been defined and this wasn’t one of them. One of these children has died of a heart attack caused by virus attacking his vascular system. (source)
Kids Voice Their Opinons About Being Back to School
Neighbor kids started this week. The general consensus is that school with new COVID-19 protocol is much more fun and a lot less work than distance learning.
With her little friends giving rave reviews like that, our daughter is ready and eager to get back to school on Monday the 18th. There will be six children returning from her class and they will only have school two days a week. We couldn’t be more pleased.
