The world is changing, right before my eyes, the world is becoming a different place. I'm seeing things I've never seen before. Schools shutting down, stores, bars, theaters all closing down. The shelves are empty, there isn't toilet paper or water, lots of stores are running low on food. Thankfully where I am we are still good on food. I've read about times like this in history but I never really expected to see it.

My sister took her grandbaby to the doctor yesterday and was made to wait in the car until they called her in, her and the baby had to have their temperatures checked before they could even go in. People are wearing masks and gloves everywhere, restaurants are take out or drive thru only. It's unreal.

Then I hear of other worse things, Italy is collapsing under the weight of this virus, 1000 new cases a day, over 400 new deaths a day. and its spreading fast in other countries too. Here in America we are trying to stop it, to slow it down. We are using terms I've never heard before, things like flattening the curve, social distancing and slowing the spread. I wish I could say that everyone is taking it seriously. That our country, our world is working together to stop or at least slow down this pandemic but I can't. I can say SOME people are practicing social distancing, some are isolating but many aren't. I can only pray that enough of us are that maybe we can slow it enough to matter.

There is division in my home and I'm reminded of the Bible verse where Jesus tells us that he will bring division.

(Luke 12:51-53Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.)

That's how it is in my family and even in my home right now. My parent refuse to isolate, even though they are at a higher risk, both older and with health conditions. My sister is doing a light quarantine, my sick aunt that is on dialysis isn't stopping her activities. I had a fight with my son when I told him I didn't want him around any of them for the next couple of weeks. I can't get my husband to agree to stop going to church services for the time being. So many still think it's a hoax or an over exaggeration. I've always heard that history repeats itself and I guess that's true because I read in Hitler's day people heard the rumors and reports of what was going on with the Jews and the gas chambers but so many didn't believe it. They thought it was a lie or an exaggeration. Well here we are less than 100 years later and saying the same things, there aren't that many people dying, it's only a small group that is affected (the elderly), it won't affect me personally. Wake up people, it's here, it's real. Life is changing, but we, America and other countries are fortunate we can learn from Italy and China and hopefully Be better prepared. Everyday we slow it down new treatments are being tested, better preparations are being made, vaccines are being tested. A week or two can make all the difference. This is a new world but it could be a stronger, healthier world, pollution is clearing up, streams and waterways are clean again, families are home all together, children aren't shut up away from their families in school but home with their parents, the church is learning new innovative ways to reach their community. People are learning to rest, be still, to pause. We are all reminded what is important, people are praying again.