“God’s Promised Presence”

May 24, 2020

As we remember the many who have died supporting the cause of liberty and democracy in our young nation, as many have died to grant our freedoms of worship and democratic life, we pause to give thanks not only for these men and women but also for the Presence of God who has sustained us from the first beginning of the stirrings of hope for democratic life. So, let us pause and for a time now, let us give thanks!

As we approach 100,000 deaths from Covid-19 across this land, we are given a sober reminder and a warning that all things are not well with us. All 50 states are now relaxing restrictions and opening despite the calls from medical professionals and the CDC for caution, social distancing, masks when in groups of more than 10 persons, frequent hand washing and continuing vigilance. Not everyone is abiding by these suggested rules for prevention of viral spread.

The first attempts to prevent viral spread of Covd-19 worked, albeit imperfectly, in that for the most part, save for New York, Louisiana, Michigan, Connecticut and New Jersey, in most states hospital systems were not overwhelmed by the initial wave of the virus. This stands in contrast to Brazil now, and Italy and Spain who had a difficult time. We do not yet know what is happening in Russia, which is not counting all those who are dying, or Iran which was for a time the epicenter and other places as yet unknown, or North Korea, about whom we know nothing at all.

Since I can only speak of places I know, I will speak of South Carolina. Greenville, SC had the highest number of cases last week in the state, 22 reported. I have not yet seen statistics for this week just ending. Our sister states, Georgia and North Carolina have been greatly affected, also. Our political leaders have made risky choices opening places of businesses, including restaurants for indoor dining, beaches without social distancing enforced and hair salons, tattoo parlors, and bars. Statistical models from reliable sources now predict a second peak of Covid-19 infections in July for our region and perhaps a second, more vicious peak in the fall to coincide with the fall flu season. Our schools are struggling now to come up with a plan for our children. Shall only the younger children go to class, and the older students continue computer instruction at home? How many legitimately can fit in a classroom designed to hold 22, but under social distancing guidelines now can accommodate only 6-8? These are legitimate questions.

We have been told that children of all ages can be infected with the covid-19 virus, but they may not show symptoms. However, children can transmit this same virus to older adults. Some infected, young children will develop a secondary but more serious problem, Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome, which is life threatening, reportedly in about 1-2 of 100 infected children. Is the school environment worth this risk? Who will ever blame a child if you or I got sick because they came around us? No, but we might fault those who placed them in an environment before a legitimate vaccine is available purely for the sake of expediency of learning or so parents could get back to work.

As this virus lingers among us for another 6 months or even longer, we have a lot of questions to consider and very few answers so far. As a physician, I continue to recommend an abundance of caution. Churches are opening their doors across the states. I will not be going. Restaurants are doing in house dining. I will not go. Beaches are open in most areas. I will go to the beach next year, presuming it is safe by then. As for me and my house, we are staying home. Let me tell you why:

Today, Sunday May 24, 2020, after worship in my home through virtual church by the internet, Sunday School and Morning Worship honoring our High School graduates, I went to a local restaurant to order take out for lunch. I did not go in to sit, but waited for my order outside the dining area. A group of persons from Georgia was sitting, waiting across from me on the other side of the room, appropriately everyone wearing masks, 4 adults and 2 teenagers. I heard them remark, “This is not the way they are doing this in Georgia, where only half the restaurant is full. Here, every table is full and no one is wearing a mask!” I left before I saw them go in. This restaurant is flaunting social distancing guidelines. How many others are doing this, as well? This week I saw pictures on the news from Myrtle Beach, SC from last weekend. If any social distancing was occurring, I could not see it for the number of persons in the photo frame. A report from Charleston, from the Isle of Palms beach regarding last weekend’s crowd from the Mayor of Isle of Palms Beach, “In my sixty years of living on the Isle of Palms, I have never seen so many persons at this beach!”

The statistical models have been correct in the past. Is there any reason not to believe them now? These are models done in Britain for the United States. They have no political interest one way or another in any particular outcome. I happen to believe these numbers, as interpreted by scientists who study epidemics throughout history. The second wave of the Black Death in Europe (Middle Ages) and the Spanish Flu (1918-1919), were more lethal by millions than the first wave. Of course, we have better health care facilities, which work great until they become overwhelmed.

Am I too pessimistic? Not based on current human behavior as witnessed across our state and Southeast region. But I do hope I am wrong. We know Texas is already in trouble, but not yet South Carolina. In our area we are having many mild cases, often young adults who simply have headache and severe fatigue, lasting 4-5 days. We test them, but not everyone tests out positive, owing to the low viral load. But I keep them home for 7 days before letting them go back to work. I know personally of one nursing home in our area with 4 positive cases, which are being isolated. I heard of a nursing home in Greenville which had 55 positive cases and 13 deaths, about 3 weeks ago. Since I am a medical professional, my perspective is as a medical professional. I have worked through the whole period of the Covid-19 outbreak and had no loss of income except loss of my job from hospice, owing to our low census. Surprisingly, hospice groups have been adversely affected as many older adults are afraid to let anyone in their home, even to help with dying adults. I have heard one person say who had been very sick with Covid-19, after she recovered, “I was afraid to go to the hospital for fear I might get something worse!” So, this is the perception of some older adults.

For the immediate future and into the fall my office will be doing mostly Telemed. The only persons coming to the clinic and coming indoors are for lab testing, separated by 30 minutes apart and tested for fever and sickness before entering and those requiring a medical procedure which cannot be done anywhere else. The same restrictions apply to these patients: anyone with a fever or who is sick cannot come inside, but is sent to Urgent Care or the hospital to be treated. Since we have predominantly older adults age 60 and above, these guidelines are in place to protect them from exposure to Covid-19 and from those who may be ill. Most appreciate the Telemed experience and are glad to be at home, not having to come out for a medical visit. For our most elderly, age 70 to 100 years, the family is especially grateful for this experience.

Summary: So, what I am saying? I am genuinely concerned for our communities in South Carolina and surrounding states, as I am for all areas of this planet, as we do not yet have a handle on how to control or even manage this viral epidemic. We are allowing our political leaders, many who seek expediency in order to bring back the economy for their re-election, but are willing to sacrifice many more human lives than might have otherwise been the case. As a health professional, I cannot and do not condone this approach. Because of politics and calculated political judgment based on expediency we are playing with viral fire and we may soon be severely burned.

The political response to this medical crisis has been chaotic, ill planned and in many ways disastrous. Were it not for our various governors who took the lead in this response, we would be further behind the curve ball then we are now. Containment did not work because the White House ignored the early warnings from the CIA in November and December of 2019. By the time they tried to engage it was too late. Mitigation worked somewhat, owing mostly to the governors of each state who refused to be bullied by a president whose knowledge of science will fit into a thimble, but who believes his “inner gut” as being more reliable than scientific consensus for planning in emergencies.

Now, political expediency and a desire to maintain Republican dominance in the Senate and White House have colored every response to this crisis. Not wishing to give the Democrats any political capital to spend in the next election has left this nation a house divided, which according to the Holy Scriptures, “cannot stand.” Whether we make it through this crisis remains an open question. As we are responding now, even with a vaccine next spring and massive immunization drives, will we be past this crisis by this same time next year? I hope so, but I am not at all certain.

Perhaps one person’s opinion does not matter in this time of crisis, even one informed by science. However, now is not the time to be silent. I am sure, as a nation, this will be a great learning experience for us, and perhaps will teach us some humility of mind and deed. But even in the best of circumstances or the worse, a lot of people are going to die in this nation. My hope that the many dying will instead be the few. What we do now does matter. In a divided nation, it is impossible for us to have consensus about anything. This crisis of Covid-19 did not produce a “rallying around the flag” moment for us, owing to such poor leadership at the top. It has only made our divisions more evident and real. More than 50% of Americans do not like this President and some even despise him. This does not bode well for any of us.   If we had someone who could unite us in some way, how much better for all this would be.

Prayer: O God, our Father and Jesus Christ our one True Friend, hear us through your divine Holy Spirit and teach us how to pray for ourselves and for this nation. We do not know what we need and can often not even say what we want. We are confused and frightened because there are so many conflicting words everywhere. To whom do we listen? To whom do we turn for leadership and guidance in this time?

O Lord our God, our Father and Jesus Christ our Friend, please help us in this time, as we are lost without you. Save us from ourselves and from blaming each other for those things we do to ourselves and one another. We are without any sense of community and we do not know how to create what we no longer have. We are aware there is blame enough for all in this season and simply ask that you might help us and forgive us for not knowing what we should do in this time. As lost sheep, we have gone astray, we have lost our way and there is no help within us.

Grant us good leadership, with fresh vision and new hope. Take away the blinders from our eyes and turn away all false prophets who tell us “Peace, Peace, when there is no peace!” Rather give us the blows from a friend rather than kisses from an enemy! Let truth, righteousness, justice, goodness, and mercy prevail. Throw out darkness, confusion, pride, narcissism, and death. Grant us again to see the light of a new day, for we pray in the strong and mighty name of the powerful Jesus Christ, the name which is above every name, Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be all praise, glory, honor and blessing, both now and forevermore. Amen!

Let all of God’s people say, “Amen!”

“Amen!” We praise you, Lord Jesus Christ!

“Amen!”

Bill Wilson, MD, servant of God by God’s grace and mercies.