Fear!

It has been a while since I’ve written a post for my blog and I have to wonder
‘why’ I’ve waited so long. Actually, I’ve been writing in my head for quite a while now as I’ve stood back and watched what is happening in the world and, more specifically, in our country. What I have seen has been disturbing.

Two years ago my sister-in-the-Lord and I were in Israel where we had gone for a five week vacation. We love Israel and we’ve been there a number of times yet we are always eager to go again. But this time was different. As far as our accommodations go – we were living the life. We had rented a luxury apartment, were driving a luxury SUV and having a wonderful time. Very dear friends were supposed to join us in the third week of our journey, but that didn’t happen.

Covid happened!

At first we were somewhat amused at the American reporting we were seeing in the papers, on television and then, finally within the country itself. We had no fear – certainly not like the fear that was being broadcast into the universe.

We were enjoying our trip, even making special day trips – I’ll write about those later – and looking forward to our friends joining us so we could show them our Israel. As we shopped at the supermarkets, but not at the Mahane Yehuda open-air market, we noticed more and more people were beginning to wear masks. We were not wearing them nor did we have any intention of doing so. We went about our business as usual although we were quickly becoming aware of ‘shut downs’ around the country. Tourism stopped. Planes stopped flying in. It was crazy.

Eventually, we read the tea leaves and knew it was time to come home although we had not yet been able to complete the planned journey. The trip home was grueling with many stories to share. But the most grueling of all was what we saw when we landed in our home state of Oklahoma.

Immediately upon landing we rushed to the grocery store; we had planned on being gone much longer and had given away all of our perishable foods before we left. Now we needed to replenish our food supply.

We were shocked to see the number of masks people in the grocery store were wearing. We were not wearing masks but they were and the stares we got were something I never thought I’d see in my beloved state where people are friendly, helpful, casual and have never shown this kind of fear. Most of us are gun toting citizens who face little fear – but here it was – FEAR. I saw it everywhere.

I was shocked. I was disappointed. I couldn’t believe this was my Oklahoma where we enjoy our freedom in every aspect of the word, yet here we are looking into the covered faces of fear. That was only the beginning. Since then I have seen fear in my friends and even associates and I have been amazed at that – but not amazed in a good way.

I do not doubt nor deny that this Covid thing has been real and many treasured people have been victimized and murdered by it and the illicit doctors treating them with the protocol issued from political apes. I am saddened for the families of those who have died – and there have been many – but I am even more deeply saddened by the FEAR I have seen in my country, in my state, in my friends. Now that Covid is waning I still see fear in some of my friends to the point that it has imprisoned them in their own home.

Mandates were issued. Mandates were reversed. All the while the little wizard behind the green screen continued to spout leadings of confusion over wearing masks be it one or two or more. The insanity out of Washington over the edicts have angered us and pushed us and punished us to the point that some have taken a stand against stupidity…

So as I write this, I think of the dictator in Canada who long ago lost his footing and is now spinning out of control. With any luck and a lot of determination, Canadians will overthrow his reign of terror and return their country to a semblance of normal, whatever that is these days. Hopefully, the United States will do the same but in the meantime, we have a “Wag the Dog” situation going on in the Ukraine and I have to wonder what lies hidden beneath reporters desks and if they’ll ever grow the courage to take off all masks and speak truth – real truth – or has Covid killed that as well?