I Am Putting This In Writing

  

I Am Putting This In Writing

I recently visited our family doctor for a minor issue. He just started seeing patients in his clinic again, since the Stay at Home order. After going through sanitizing my hands, lifting face mask to cover my nose and checking my temperature, I was allowed in. After suggesting the necessary medication, the doctor and I had our customary chat about families, and our views on the pandemic. When the doctor expressed his concern, I offered my typical response, “And this shall pass”. “Will you put it in writing?”, he asked. I said, “I will”.

I do not know about you, but when there is a fog in Monterey Heights, the area where we live, it is very difficult to imagine that in just a fifteen minute drive in any direction; there might be sunny weather. So it goes with other issues in our lives, regardless of how serious it may be at this moment, like it’s in a joke about a boy who comes home from school upset. “What is going on?” his father inquires. “I have a huge problem,” the boy answers. “I understand,” Father says. “Do you remember last year when you had a huge problem?” “No, I don’t.” “Next year you will not remember this one either.” Every day we are bombarded with negative information. Either medical, political, social, financial or emotional. It seems that all the problems are interconnected and there is no end in sight. So, on what grounds can I claim, “this shall pass”?

I was always interested in history, regardless of the subject. The history of pandemics goes back to circa 3000 B.C. Online I found an article about 20 of the worst epidemics in history. The article began with, “Plagues and epidemics have ravaged humanity throughout its existence, often changing the course of history.” COVID-19 will pass as well. To see the outcome, we need to be patient; meanwhile, do the outmost to stay safe and healthy.

It might take longer for the social issues to pass. But eventually they will. The history is the proof.

Jews came to New Amsterdam (which later became New York) in 1654, which started antisemitism in this country, and it took until 1960s when signs reading “Dogs and Jews Are Not Allowed“ finally stopped appearing. This happened not because Jews suddenly became loved; but rather, they became relevant and part of the American society through education and contribution. I do not think antisemitism has passed, but at least its outer appearance did in our country. This is a gradual process, which comes from within. So, the next time you will have a bothersome issue, find something which gives you joy, focus on it and be patient, and the issue shall pass.

P.S. While writing this story, I came across the words of Mikhail Bulgakov (1891-1940).

“Everything passes away – suffering, pain, blood, hunger, pestilence. The sword will pass away too, but the stars will remain when shadows of our presence and our deeds have vanished from the Earth. There is no man who does not know that. Why, then, will we not turn our eyes toward the stars? Why?”

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