Public Health experts tell us we’re now into the second wave of Covid 19. Will it ever end? I sure hope so, and soon. Like many people, I find wearing a mask difficult. My glasses fog up. I’ve tried several styles. I just don’t have the best-shaped nose and cheek bones for mask wearing. I miss square dancing, live theatre, singing in church, and spontaneous hugs.

The experts say, “Get used to it. We’ll need the Covid 19 protocols well into next year.” This morning I read about a special coffee cup message that seems to fit. An artist depicted the Bible story of the Israelites escaping from slavery. On the cup was the Red Sea, the water parted making two high walls. Moses stands between two high walls of water up to his knees in mud. He’s looking back at the ragtag band of followers poised on the sea shore looking doubtful. He says, “What do you mean there’s a little mud?” Freedom from slavery meant stepping into that sea of mud.

Let’s consider the deep mud as the Covid 19 protocol – keep social distance, wear masks, wash your hands, stay home. We’re all tired of being up to our knees in protocol, yet this is the road God is offering us. It’s a road paved with love – love of others and love of self. That’s what this protocol is all about. If we love our world, if we want to care for and respect other people, if we truly love ourselves, we will wear our masks, wash our hands, take our temperature, stay home. We will do everything we can to protect others and ourselves.

It’s actually a very biblical way to live. St. Paul tells us, “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”  (I Corinthians 12:26)

So let’s step into the mud, wriggle our toes in it. We may not like the feel of this protocol. Still these simple steps are actually simple acts of kindness. We can do them easily. Let’s give thanks that kindness is our calling.