LEARNING THE HARD WAY

A couple of weeks ago we sent our kids and grandkids masks that we had made during this lock-down in case they needed to be out and about. When five-year-old Carter wanted to know what they were for, his parents explained to him I terms he could understand why he needed to wear one if and when the time came.

Carter got the message. They had to be out for two reasons: his Dad, who works from home, needed some supplies for work and Carmine, the Dog, badly needed his shots. The Vet had them do a drive-thru drop-off and pickup and Dad ran into the store to get what he needed. All three were masked. Carter, a little frightened because he understood the danger they were in, wore his mask and put his second mask on the stuffed animal he was taking with him as a security. He did not want to learn a lesson the hard way.

Good for Carter! The sad part is that learning the lesson the hard way is the only way we sometimes learn. As Arlena and I have been out on our daily walks, what we have noticed that everyone our age or around our age – namely retired – keep social distancing when we come near one another. Those younger than us, the 20-30 somethings do not. Yesterday a group of them were walking side by side. We avoided them like the plague because one of them may have given it to us. They seemed to care less.

Growing up we were all warned by our parents while supper was being made on the stove that we should not get too close to the hot pans or we might get burnt. We got too close and got burned and Mom or Dad had little or no sympathy for us. We were warned but the warning was not enough. We learned the hard, hot way. That is why it boggles my mind that so many, especially young people who should know better are not tasking this pandemic seriously, certainly not seriously enough.

Why? Of course I also ask why young people start smoking when they absolutely know smoking causes cancer; why people drink and drive when they know what the consequences can be and often are; why I eat the wrong foods or too much of them at times knowing full well that it is foolish to do so. Why do we do what we know is harmful to ourselves and often to others? I wish I knew.

When we put ourselves and/or others in harm’s way and think little or nothing about it in doing so, well, how can we not think about it? We know what we are doing, know it is wrong, yet do it anyway. That’s a sin. Sin is always deliberate. If I go out and put myself in harm’s way by not wearing a mask, if others put me in harm’s way by coming near me when they should stay a safe distance, we’re all sinning whether we think so or not.

To say that it is okay and even encourage people to put others or self in harm’s way by disregarding sound medical advice is simply unconscionable, sinful and wrong, learning the hard ward notwithstanding.