As a person who has traveled to many doctors and many specialists over the last 8 years, I see medical things different now-a-days. Doctors and scientist are needed. If you look at all the ways medicine has excelled in the past 100 years, us, as patients do receive better care. That care is all due to research, trial by error, and trial by win.
So today I thought I’d give you some food for thought. Give some insight from someone who isn’t medically trained but has been around enough to know things.
I was poisoned 8 years ago and have gone to many MANY doctors. And while they were all so very well trained and willing to try to help me. Some of my ailments never received a diagnosis. Some of my organs still don’t work right. And let’s just chat a second about Migraines.
Doctors are still learning about the brain and triggers to migraines. Some of us have tried everything but we still struggle with migraines. Even if you do everything the doctor says (eat healthy, exercise, take this medicine, do this or do that), nothing seems to keep us totally FREE from migraines. Thankfully I only struggle a few times a month instead of every day. When I get migraines now, I feel blessed. Sometimes annoyed but always blessed. Because having my head hurt that bad and be in that much pain causes me to rely on God and when I'm at my weakest, he is strong!
It is funny how we as people simply want a diagnosis along with a curable medicine. Me included. But if we look back at history, sometimes there isn’t always diagnosable answers or medicine that “fixes” the issue.
So, when it comes to a new disease like Covid-19 of course we are going to look to the doctor who are well trained, who do research, and who want to help us. But we have to keep in mind, doctors don’t always know everything and when it comes to new illnesses, they are just trying to make suggestions that will help us. Keep in mind that sometimes those suggestions don’t fix the issue or make it go away.
I’ve seen so many opinionated people when it comes to Covid-19. Especially on social media.
And really, I’m not trying to make this about opinions. I’m actually just trying to give you honest both sided facts.
As I’ve already stated I have experienced many doctors ideas and treatments and there are always pros and cons to doing a treatment or taking a medication.
Let’s get started with the pros and cons of Covid-19.
Masks CAN help us. If you disagree give me a chance to explain. As a farm kid I've grown up covering my face. Country living causes us to cover our faces quite a bit. If your scooping grain, especially in a grain bin, you know that wearing a mask helps prevent you from getting all that dust in your nose and lungs. In our South Dakota winters with blizzards and negative degree windchill we are used to covering our faces with scarfs. Cattle drives in the dry summer heat will cause you to at least hold your breath from the dust, especially if you're in the rear. There is a reason that dentists and hygienists wear masks. There is also a reason why doctors and nurses in critical care units, surgery, and more wear masks to protect us and them from spreading germs.
So yes, masks can help dear reader.
The CDC has told us that masks can help protect us from the virus…BUT they never have said what the side effects are from wearing a mask all day. (If you know anything about doctor visits, there is always, ALWAYS side effects to what the doctor tells you to do.) What are the side effects from wearing a mask? No one seems to talk about that.
There is this unspoken law that if we wear masks, we won’t get Covid-19. The CDC never ever said that. They said it can help protect us. If you do the research, wearing a mask was only suggested to not over-run the hospitals. They also said it can help protect us but they never said we won’t get Covid-19.
If Covid-19 is as contagious as the doctors say, then won’t we ALL get Covid-19?
Do the research: Did you know that the vaccine that will come out first has aborted fetuses in it? If your pro-life but are waiting for a Covid-19 vaccine, what are you going to do?
What about Covid-19 in 3rd world countries? Do you really think people in Haiti and Africa have money for masks? America is so concerned about what the news is telling us about Covid-19 death rates that we aren't even hearing about death rates in 3rd world countries. Don't those people matter too? Are they dying? Are we even doing anything to help them?
Is Social Distancing really beneficial? I understand that it's helping protect us from the virus. But what about domestic abuse, sex trafficking (thats still going on), suicide, and all the elderly people that aren't dying from Covid-19 but from lack of people. Do the pro's of social distancing outweigh the cons?
What about death? Ya'll might think I'm going crazy religious on you, but deep deep down the fear of Covid-19 isn't getting someone else sick, its you yourself dying or you yourself causing someone else to die. If you are honest to God, it comes down to death. Raise your hand if you want to die? Uh, like nobody does! But if you believe in God you should have NO FEAR in death. Doesn't mean believers don't want to die. Simply means that as believers there is no fear in death. If we die, we know where we are going. DO YOU? That doesn't mean as believers we act stupidly, we need to be smart. But isn't it ok if you're a believer and want to wear a mask? Isn't it ok if you're a believer and choose not to?
Why now? Why do you care about spreading germs now? Last year when people were going about their day no one ever thought about spreading germs. Last fall as I came into contact (in public places) with people who had fevers, Influenza, and the common cold. No one ever felt bad about spreading germs till now. Seems silly to have a new disease cause people to NOW be conscientious. Maybe because I've struggle with a low immune system since my poisoning that I don't think about changing my habits. Besides wearing a mask I have lived the last 8 years by: wash your hands, sanitize, and staying home when sick. Why had we become so stupid that we needed a newer deadlier virus to remind us to stay home when sick and to wash our hands? Why now do we feel bad when people die of the flu? Honestly that is what Covid-19 is: A new virus but it is the flu.
I do believe Covid-19 IS serious. I question though whats happened to Influenza. I haven't heard of anyone getting Influenza since Covid-19 happened. Why?
This brings me to another thought…opinions.
Why are we on social media bickering about wearing a mask or not? Instead of letting others think for themselves and their own convictions, why are we trying to push our thoughts on someone else? Do we think that we are better than them? That we know better than them? Honestly dear reader, due to this being a new virus even doctors are debating the issues of Covid-19.
I do think that if a business required it, then you should follow the rules. But to shame people for not wearing a mask. How is that helpful to society? I've been surrounded by people who are wearing masks but also coughing. I don't feel safe by that. Do you?
Here’s another food for thought. I have SO many allergies. And all of them affect my breathing first. For me, wearing a mask is actually worse. And according to the CDC, mask wearing is only encouraged if you don’t have trouble breathing. So, as people have sat or stood 6 feet away judging me for not wearing a mask. Did you ever think that I also am following the CDC guideline by not wearing a mask because I have breathing problems?
What about the people that disagree? Can’t you still try to be careful and not wear a mask? If wearing a mask helps you feel like you're protecting yourself and others, GREAT! Really, no shame from me. But if others disagree when it comes to wearing a mask, aren’t they entitled to choose for themselves not to? No shame from me either.
I don’t remember reading from the CDC that you HAVE to wear a mask. I do think we should abide by the governing authorities as long as it doesn’t go against the Bible. If your governor says wear a mask, shouldn’t we? (I personally am thankful to live in SD where my governor lets the people decide. But if I still lived in Kansas City l I would abide by the governor’s rules whether I personally agree or disagree.)
WHY abide? Let’s read us some Bible…
Romans 13:1-2 says, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed and those who resist will incur judgement.”
So shouldn't we obey the government that God has put over us?
Should we shame and guilt each other who have different opinions?
Romans 14:1 says, “As for the one who is weak in the faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions.”
Are our opinions so great that we feel the need to shame others for thinking differently?
What about causing someone to stumble?
Romans 14:13 says, “Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.”
My brother mentioned this verse a few months back in one of his sermons and he is right. What if loving your neighbor means putting a mask on? My niece is 2 years old and a type 1 diabetic, although I have trouble breathing, I will wear a mask while traveling to visit her, to protect her little body. What if loving your neighbor means taking a mask off? When I personally dealt with trauma in 2013, I would have hated to sit in counseling sessions talking behind a mask while talking to my counselor behind her mask.
Perspective does matter.
Covid-19 is full of unknowns and I think that does scare people.
Since I don’t wear a mask often. (I think I’ve only worn a mast 5 times.) Should I feel shamed if I spread the virus? Should people make me feel bad for not wearing a mask? If I’m doing everything my doctors and the CDC doctors have told me to do, then no. I shouldn’t feel shamed if I spread the virus. I shouldn’t allow people to make me feel shameful.
I am doing everything in my power to keep myself and others healthy. Shouldn’t we all? And maybe, just maybe dear reader, that looks different for different people who have different reasons behind why they do what they do.
Let’s think before we act and speak.
Let’s remember that there are always two sides to a story.
Let’s remember the facts and not get carried away by opinions.
Let’s remember that if Covid-19 does cause sickness and death, Jesus is still more powerful than any disease. We need to be smart, careful, and watchful of germs. But remember, that looks different for each person. Show grace to someone that thinks differently.
God is always good, even in the face of a new disease.
God is always good, even in turmoil among others.
God is always good.
Much love to all who read.
