The daily Mass Scriptures through this Lent and this COVID-19 pandemic are uncanny in their potency of spiritual and practical sustenance for us all. And from St. Theodore the Studite, monk at Constantinople (859-826), this portion from his Catechesis I also provides, also, spiritual and practical focus for us.
"It is our task and, in our case, an obligation to make of you the oboject of all our care, our zeal, our ministrations, by word and deed, by warnings, encouragement, admonitions and incitement...so that, in this way, we might insert you into the rhythm of the divine will and face you towards the goal set before us: to give pleasure to God....
"He who is immortal voluntarily shed His blood. He who created the host of angels was bound at the hands of soldiers, and He who is to judge the living and the dead was dragged to justice (cf. Acts 10:42; 2 Tm 4:1). Truth was exposed to false witnesses, was slandered, struck covered with spittle, hung on the wood of the cross: the Lord of glory (cf. 1 Cor 2:8) endured every outrage and suffering without himself needing these trials.
"How could this have happened to Him who even as a man, was without sin and who, to the contrary, snatched us away from the tyranny of the sin through which death came into the world and falsely took possession of our first father?
"So there is nothing surprising about it if we submit to even one of these trials since such is our condition.... Therefore, we too have to be offended and tempted, afflicted by the cutting off of our wills. According to the interpretation of our Fathers, there is in this a shedding of blood for this is what it means to be a monk [hermit, lay person, a Christian, a citizen of country and of the world]. And we must gain the Kingdom of heaven in that way by spending our lives in imitation of the Lord.... Apply yourselves zealously to your duties in the thought that by means of them, far from being slaves of men, you are serving God."
In short, and bluntly, let us all humble ourselves and sacrifice at this time. STAY IN if you absolutely do not have to go out and about. The person in neighborhood yesterday texted they're going out again and had gone to stores plus out hiking with pets day prior. Said felt "great--only has runny nose!" This is after two days over weekend of chills, then sore throat, headache, sore glands and chills. Yesterday list of symptoms to be concerned with, at top of list is: runny nose. The person is over 65 with underlying lung issues; seems incapable of just staying home.
Awhile ago was calling me; I did not answer. Figured the person was going out yet again shopping, and no, I do not need a thing. Nor will I. I have more than enough to make do for a long time, and if my COVID-19 test comes back negative, I will go out on the patio and plant vegetable seeds including greens and radishes that will be edible in a couple or three weeks. Have canned goods and dried fruit if go through what's in the refrigerator.
Sure enough, that is what the person was calling about. My rather pointed text yesterday morning--CONSIDER STAYING IN--did not make a dent nor did it insult enough to get the contacting me to cease. Given that the virus stays on plastics up to three days and might end up being longer, and it stays on paper and cardboard for 24 hours, I do not want even more items at my door I'd need to be wiping down from someone with a runny nose or anything else.
Yesterday I did locate a new doctor, an internist, for future. But the ER doctor insisted I be rechecked in two days, yet the internist's office had to involve the triage nurse, who needed to determine with others how to accommodate someone who is under COVID-19 test result watch. They were going to have to develop a protocol to get someone with all the symptoms and ill, into their facility somehow. In the meantime, I decided there is no way that I have the oomph to go out, nor do I want to potentially infect others with COVID, nor with whatever I have.
Today I called them and said I believe the ER doctor was going by usual ER policy, of the patient needing to get a re-check by doctor in 1-2 days. If I were worse, I'd return to ER. I'm not worse. I am thinking positively that I've turned the corner, but in the night I awoke in a sweat and needed to use the nebulizer. So I'm not over this, either. Only two temperature upticks or surges today, which is down from prior. Third day of the Azithromycin, the cough pills are helping me not cough as much, the lungs still hurt but I'm thinking positively that not quite as much or at least not more.
The internist's office was relieved and appreciative to my decision. I had the sense at the ER on Monday afternoon, that they were still working through some of their protocol and had not had that many come in yet with the coronavirus symptoms. I'm sure they'd had some, as the nurse who did the swabs (that go wa-a-a-y up the nose into the sinuses, so not the simple, painless swab test I'd anticipated--and in the throat more extensive than a typical strep swab) said I handled it better than others she'd done up to then. I tried to insert levity by saying my having to be on pain meds helps. Humor helps.
My main efforts from bed have been to write elsewhere online and communicate with others via email and text, sharing what I'm learning and what I was told to do and not do. I plan to write a blog post that gives example of what is entailed in wiping off surfaces. That in itself is quite the chore, and I've not been well enough to have wiped everything fully, once. The more stamina I gain as I improve, the more I can be up and wiping this and that with antibacterial bleach wipes. Today I realized need to be disinfecting toothbrush heads. Soak them in peroxide after each use.
After falling back to sleep from my 3 a.m. wake-up, I awoke this morning with my left eye seemingly infected. What? I did rub the heavy matter off before realizing not to touch eyes; was still sleepy. But I realized that I'd not wiped my glaucoma drop bottle, and more so, I'd not wiped the tip that touches my eyelids when I put drops in at night. I also had not wiped the inside of the cap which the tip touches when the cap screwed back on the bottle. Thankfully, I had some antibiotic eye drops and am praying that they are yet viable as had them a couple years ago when got splinter in my eye.
So I think some practical reminders and sharing what I'm learning as I go along, while waiting for the COVID-19 test results, might be useful to you readers. Even if you are not ill, we could all adopt some preventative measures as we, hope-in-God, are sheltering in place unless vital we venture out--and this for any age group.
Daily more research is uncovering additional information. In Italy, Spain, and France there are young people now showing serious symptoms and testing positive to the virus. These are young people who previously were quite healthy and no underlying conditions. This virus seems to be evolving, unfolding, and even shifting in symptoms and severity among age groups.
Let us consider--while we do the practical actions to help keep others and ourselves well or not getting worse, not contaminating others--reading over and pondering what St. Theodore the Studite taught his monks and left for the ages his writings that can serve us all well in this global pandemic of which no one has experienced prior. As is said by the US President's Task Force, the President, and many state leaders and religious figures: "We are all in this together, and together we will overcome."
But we will succeed by all of us turning to God and by being willing to humble ourselves and sacrifice our own fears and what can truly seem selfish wants. Cooperate with what the Task Force recommends. Stay in unless necessary and crucial we go out, preserve the health of medical personnel and law enforcement, stay calm and trust in the Lord, and PRAY and PRAISE GOD.
God bless His Real Presence in us!
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