This morning, we are taking a break from our usual activity to reflect on the Coronavirus and its impact not only on our world, but on our small, rural community in southeastern Washington.
There are 48 cases being tested in Walla Walla, but none officially confirmed. We wait and watch as more and more businesses close their doors. People provision. There is fear, yes, but also resilience. People rising together, adapting, finding ways around obstacles. Neighbors helping neighbors, and businesses helping businesses.
We have, in these moments, a chance to look at the truths about ourselves and life through a new lens. What am I made of? Where is my source of courage and peace from? How adaptable can I be? What really matters? What can I live without? How can I help those around me? What can I be grateful for?
It’s a reset button—for all of us.
And in that, an opportunity.
Who will we be in these days of challenge?
It is tempting to look to leadership at work or in government to solve our problems. But leaders are led by the people they serve, so all real human change begins inside of each one of us.
What we expect of our leaders, what we praise, we get more of. Leaders are humans, with limited resources and energy, partial facts, and more demands than can be juggled. They will disappoint us, as we will them. But this is no reason to give up on each other.
And it is no reason to adopt the belief that there is nothing we can do.
We can expect civility, clear-heads, and kindness from ourselves.
We can consider ways to use our skills to help the people around us.
We can still engage in acts of kindness and generosity.
We can recognize the impact of our words and actions on each other.
We can use the power of encouragement to create better citizens and leaders. A constant train of incivility, anger, and criticism does not make either of those better. It deflates the spirit, uses up resources, and diminishes performance.
No, if we want better results from the humans around us, we must start with ourselves, and then find time to ignite hope and encourage resilience in each other. Many of our problems can only be solved by communities.
We are not the first humans to encounter heartbreaking losses and challenges. The human race has shown a remarkable ability to adapt—to be resourceful, creative, problem-solvers. Let’s not be so quick to forget our achievements in art, science, and medicine that have already far surpassed anything we could imagine. Many of these were born out of difficult times, insurmountable challenges, and a belief that the impossible could be done.
There will be casualties, human and economic. We will grieve that.
But we do not have to make our courage, civility or compassion one of them.
— COVID-19 Resource Links —