How COVID Has Changed Everything

As we all know, approximately 10 months ago, the Novel Corona Virus began to spread around the United States like rapid fire. The media outlets began to report that the virus had spread into our country from China. 

I read articles that said the virus began in China’s “wet markets”. The descriptions of the markets were horrendous, in my opinion. The markets were called wet markets because of the animal blood that pooled on the floors of the markets. Apparently, the practice of catching all breeds of wild animals to use for food was a cultural norm. The jokes we told as kids about folks of certain cultures eating certain animals was true. 

The spread of the virus affected our way of life exponentially. The U.S economy was negatively impacted. Millions of employees lost jobs, business owners lost businesses. Schools were closed, hospitals were treating hundreds of COVID-19 patients per day. Transportation was pretty much shut down regionally and nationally. Public officials told citizens to remain inside. Trips to the grocery and drug stores were the only activity recommended. My last day in my office was in early March. I reported to work one day and was told to go back home. I have been working from home since then. 

Restaurants, hair salons, malls, houses of worship, gyms; all closed. We could not get together with friends, or even family. My entire way of life changed, and this began to weigh heavily on me. 

 All the activities that were a huge part of my life were unavailable. I could not go to the gym and take my Zumba classes. I could not go to the hair salon. We could not go out to dinner, go shopping, to the office, get together with friends for our weekly meetings. We could NOT attend church!

This experience has been and is still difficult. The most uncomfortable part of the experience is missing church. I love my church. I did not grow up in church. We did not attend church on a regular basis as a child. I came to know Jesus Christ as my Savior as an adult. Before marriage, I attended a church that loved. However, when we married, we struggled to find a church that we felt was the right place for us. I longed for a church family as I had previously experienced. After we had a child, I wanted this even more. I wanted her to grow up in a community of people who looked like her and had shared life experiences a young black girl. I wanted to serve.

Finally, God led us too Thankful Baptist church. I had found a community at last. I found a place where I could serve. I made friends, had fun, worshipped. Our Pastor is great. All of this was taken away by a combination of COVID-19, and a President who failed to manage it the way he should have.