The Pursuit of Life and Health Isn't Always about Fear

When I first studied the Catholic Faith, I learned that the Ten Commandments were not just for Old Testament times, that they applied to our lives today, and not just in the most obvious ways. For example, the commandment, Thou Shalt Not Kill, didn't just refer to murder. We don't get off that easy. It also included anything which intentionally or knowingly could lead to a death or to injury of the health of others or ourselves.  

I read an article this morning where a woman said she has dealt with chronic illness, and this has prepared her to deal with the panic around Covid-19.  Without quoting, because my purpose isn't to get into an article battle, the impression I got from the article was that she felt we are destroying our health and the health of those around us by living in fear of the virus, and more specifically in fear of dying.

Let me say this. As someone with a strong faith in God and a strong trust in his mercy I am not afraid of death. Now, that is not to say that I have no fear about what manner of death I might face. Another thing I learned, a little later in my studies of the Catholic Faith, is that if God allows hard things to come to us, he will give us the graces when we need them, not necessarily before we need them. In other words, if we fear a certain type of death (I never could get on board with being eaten by lions), that doesn't mean we won't be able to deal with whatever actually does happen to us. I've learned not to dwell on the various ways I could die. But as someone whose son died, and I experienced how hard that was on all of us, I want to do all that I can to live, especially for the sake of my family and other loved ones.

But being cautious in a time of a highly contagious virus is not only about my own life and health, but also all those I come into contact with, as well. Although there are some people - on both sides of the thinking about this situation - who turn it into fear and anger, it isn't fear that drives me to be careful; it is love. When I decide to stay home, it is out of love for myself, yes, but also out of love for my family who wants me around.  When I decided to wear a mask wherever I go (unless it's outdoors in a wide open area), I made that decision out of love for myself, my family, and everyone I come in contact with. Not out of fear. Certainly not out of fear of death.

Yes, we do need to be careful that we don't let fear and anger destroy our health, as the author of the article pointed out. But that same caution – to not let fear and anger destroy our health - is needed on all sides of the issue. She pointed out stories of people who have gotten angry at people in the store for accidentally or minimally invading their boundaries. No, that is not healthy or charitable. Nor is it healthy or charitable when people get angry with a store employee because the store or the state requires a mask. Some people on all sides need to lay down their anger or at least ratchet it down a notch or two. 

So, yes, we do need to protect our mental health and that of those around us. We don't do that by panicking about an illness; but neither do we do that by panicking that the government might take away our rights by asking us to wear a mask until we get better control of an illness which has been highly contagious so far.