The Plague Months as Video Game

My grandchildren love to have me watch them play video games. (And now that we’re all kept apart from one another, I really miss those simple everyday pleasures!) I’m not sure why they think it’s a spectator sport, but they seem to like the adult validation that what they’re doing is important and done skillfully. Sometimes they’re underground or underwater for a segment, and sometimes they’re above ground and moving along more normally.

It suddenly occurred to me that this is a metaphor for life, at least life as we know it currently in this time of plague. We are in the underground phase right now – dark, not sure if we have enough air to breathe (literally, when you go outside with a mask on!), scurrying around trying to find that coin or mushroom or whatever we can find that we need so badly. Sometimes it seems like we’re failing and we have to start that level all over again and try some more.

But then, sooner or later, we will emerge back into the sunshine above the ground and have our familiar (almost lovable) enemies attacking us instead of whatever was crounching in the darkness gnashing its jaws, biding its time.

I’m thinking about what it will be like when we actually get a medical all-clear and we can emerge from our cages again and go out into the world. Fearlessly? Will we feel free to get close to another human being for a long time to come, let alone hugging them? What will the High Holyday services feel like? – ugh, so many people crowded together in one room, people are coughing and sneezing, THIS IS A DEATH TRAP! Some things will possibly not change. I personally have always been a compulsive hand-washer, but maybe now most of us will be more sensitive to washing our hands before and after most of our activities. There are still other viruses and bacteria out there, after all, even if this one evaporates into oblivion! Will we shake hands in every business encounter or social encounter with people we don’t know as well? Interesting thought. May we emerge with confidence when it is time to ascend to the next level of this game of life.

May God guard your going out and your coming in, now and forever. – Psalm 121:8