There is massive controversy out there right now regarding the wearing of masks. Soon Halloween will be here and the choices are bound to be unlimited. For me, the wearing of a mask is difficult. I have multiple breathing issues, but I still need to get out and do my grocery shopping once a week. This time has become the one getaway I look forward to.

My husband, on the other hand, is a stickler for following the rules. He is adamant about social distancing and wearing both mask and gloves when necessary. He teaches an online art class and wore a mask because he was being filmed in a small space with the person filming. He has finally decided he needed to remove his face covering so his audience could understand what he was saying.

Yesterday he made a trip to the post office to purchase stamps. There was the usual line of people waiting for their turn. The clerk was having a friendly conversation with a customer, which is an unusual occurrence to begin with. Another person was thumbing through the items for sale. Paul was sandwiched between her and a fellow who was inching up closer and closer and becoming very impatient. Paul noticed that the man was wearing a mask, but it covered nothing but his chin. He asked the man to please move back and observe the social distancing rule. The man became belligerent and started yelling that the whole mandate thing was just a fake.

“Don’t you get it? This whole thing is just a scam. We don’t need to do this anyway,” he said with a few added unnecessary expletives.

He finally moved back, but began to cough from his unmasked face. Such is life at the post office. No wonder so many postal employees go ballistic from time to time. Anyway, Paul got his stamps and a taste of what’s going on in the world of COVID19.

Is it a conspiracy thing? Will it all go away after the upcoming election? Will our kids and grandkids get to finish their senior years of high school and college in the usual way? What is normal anyway? Why is everyone so angry and frustrated? Will we ever get back to what used to be or do we even want to?

Life goes on, whether things change or become intense and difficult to handle. We have no control over the hands of time. Only God monitors our every minute. Life will be crazy from time to time. We will experience difficulties and anxiety, but knowing that He is in charge should give us the confidence we need to persevere.

“Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:5-7

WEAR YOUR MASK, FOLLOW THE RULES, STAY CALM AND CARRY A SIX FOOT STICK.