My mechanic is the kind of guy never too busy to stop and have a chat. He couldn’t have known I finally decided to be vaccinated when he opened our conversation with his doubts about covid, vaccines, why antibody tests aren’t given and do you really trust Bill Gates? My resolve to be vaccinated was being tested. Being tested isn’t something I oppose; it’s good to be clear. It’s wise to be prepared to accept all consequences. As our conversation covered more territory: gun regulation, distrust of politics, and the difficulty in having civil discourse, our respect and care for one another was apparent even in our differences.
I smiled beneath my mask, grateful for the human contact. And I responded with my thoughts that covid originated from human disregard of nature and one another. That if we do not wise up, it will be repeated. Yes, variants are real, and yes media and politicians screwed up. There is no reason to blindly trust vaccines and no, I do not trust Bill Gates. But then again I don’t put my trust in individuals or into systems.
I trust myself. I don’t want to be driven by fear or storybook tales – from any side. I want to reach that place that I learned about long ago, “Leave no room for doubt in your mind”. And that has little to do with untangling the scrambled facts that bombard us daily and drive us to take sides. He understood.
There are three little boys many states away that I long to hold. There are elders suffering from isolation and there are overworked caregivers desperately needing a break. For the sake of all, I will follow Love and trust something Greater than facts.
Jab the left arm, please.