Please, God, Keep Us Safe

We are living in turbulent times. We don’t know whether we are being alarmist or whether we are being too complacent in the face of something more serious than we realize. We have been watching in horror as civility falls by the wayside – people can now say the ugliest things possible to one another, expressing deep contempt for somebody just because they disagree on some issue. Serious damage is being done to our planet – our home, the realm that God gave over into our hands to serve as stewards – and we don’t know yet how much of this damage might be irreversible.

And now we have this coronavirus. Is it overblown and people are needlessly in panic mode? Or are we failing to recognize just how serious this might become and not doing enough to get ahead of the curve and prevent thousands of unnecessary deaths? The anxiety level is palpable where I live, in the Metropolitan DC area.

As human beings, we are most vulnerable and fearful when we experience a lack of control over our immediate or long-term destiny. Time is going to have to pass before we learn more about this virus and see exactly what it is going to do! Meanwhile, we are shutting down one institution after another – “social distancing” is the new catchphrase. Our minds, lacking knowledge or control, resort to other measures. Throughout the millennia of human history, we have invoked magic, expiation rituals, science, and our religious faith. But today we are being bombarded by so many events without any framework to make some kind of order and sense of them! Can we really trust that our method of choice will indeed protect us and keep us safe?

Now and then, we need to shut down the barrage of information and engage in an activity that we find soothing. Put on some music, light a scented candle, meditate, read poetry, drink some wine, take a walk in the beautiful sunshine, have herbal tea and a cooky, take an extra nap – whatever works for you in particular.

The Jewish faith, along of course with others, has a lot to offer in terms of comfort and support. Even in isolation – both physically and in terms of information – you can feel that you’re not alone. The sheltering wings of the Shechinah enfold you and make you feel protected.

Moses engaged in dialogue with God – LOTS of dialogue with God – all the way through three books of our Torah. Discussion, negotiation, pushing back … But when his sister Miriam was struck with leprosy (for speaking ill of him and of his wife, I might add), he spoke a simple but heartfelt prayer to God, his one and only actual prayer, just five words:

אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָהּ

God, please heal her, please.

Please heal us. Please keep us safe in mind and spirit and body. Please shelter us beneath your wings and comfort us as we go through these long days of little or no information or guidance.