Mardi Gras 2020 we knew about this thing called COVID-19. The U.S. official status was that the country was headed to a pandemic status. I remember being at a parade fully aware of COVID but never feeling like I shouldn’t be there because of it. It was Carnival Time in NOLA and everyone was having fun. The moment I knew we were headed for disaster was when the NBA halted their season. I was sitting at my desk and my heart felt like it was going to come out of my chest. Billionaires shutting down the NBA? It was real. Who could have known all that we would endure next? So much loss, despair, uncertainty, misinformation, lies, chaos, death, etc. It has been a nightmare. 

How quickly things can change! It was only a few months ago when things were really looking up; Joe Biden won the Presidential election, we had multiple vaccines available to the public, businesses fully operational, sporting venues with fans, concerts…and now? We still have all that. But the light at the end of the tunnel has been snuffed out and all of our progress evaporated. The church would say we “backslid.” And we are all back to wondering is there an end in sight?

New cases are back to pre-vaccination levels. This phase of the pandemic has been labeled, ‘the pandemic of the unvaccinated’ with daily breakthrough COVID cases being reported. The main driver is the new “resistance” of those Americans who refuse to get vaccinated. It is also important to note that another sub-driver is that local, state, and the federal government lifted their mask mandates too soon in favor of an honor system. Not sure in a country where 40% of the people didn’t believe Joe Biden won the Presidential election fair and square how an honor system could work….but I digress (and so has our progress with the pandemic.)

Now Fall is approaching (again) and with it a new school year, football, fall festivals, cold weather and we are going in the wrong direction in relation to COVID. A few months ago I was beginning to exhale a bit but my COVID anxiety is back with a bang! Exacerbated by the fact that my two sons will be back on college campuses next month. We are all vaccinated but we have learned the hard way we don’t know anything about COVID until it decides to teach us. 

And so here we are and here we remain…what happens now? How much longer will this all last? How much longer can we last? This is far beyond anything we among the living has ever experienced or even thought possible a year and a half ago. We are “flying blind” learning as we live scientists, the medical profession, the government, and citizens alike. This is being played out in real-time with no playbook. This is the worst experiment ever!

As a believer, my faith is getting a workout and real talk….I am worn out. I am exhausted. The pandemic has taken “Walking by Faith and Not by Sight” to an entirely different level. And the phrase “Only God Knows” has never been truer. It is an hour by hour, day by day, only God knows what will happen next walk.  

How I wish I could say all good around this way. But I can’t. We are day by day, praying, being wise, being as safe as possible, still trying to live the best we can, and trying to Let Go and Let God. This is hard.

Social distance where you can, wear your mask, and get vaccinated!

Whew, I am tired.

Peace, Love, Joy & an Abundance of Blessings.

I AM KP Smith