Invisible Enemy

Those of us with decades of living behind us have faced a variety of enemies. However this time the enemy is not a terrorist but rather a dangerous and invisible foe with no respect for age or status and with its sight on the whole world. It targets anyone and everyone, everywhere. The fear today is that we may succumb, not to bullets as was the case in previous conflicts but to the invisible enemy that has taken over our lives.

The terrible upshot of fear is a feeling of helplessness, of impotence as the invisible enemy facing us continues to progress. However, we cannot give up. We must strive together to slow it and eventually beat it by isolating ourselves from the outside world so that our enemy can no longer feed its ferocious appetite. We must all stick together, while staying apart, so the enemy has no choice but to simply give up as its connecting chain disintegrates.

As humans, we are social beings but we have proven that we can also adapt as needed. Currently, the empty streets seem to indicate that we are learning to live differently, to pay attention to those around us. Even if isolation goes against our nature we adapt because that’s the road to survival. Humanity has conquered a lot worse than isolation in its history. Even when apart we are fortunate that our modern communication ease has made it possible for us to keep family, especially the older members, and friends close by. To interact. To calm each other’s anxieties. To write poems. To play games. To sing to each other, but most of all to laugh together.

Fighting an invisible enemy is a war we did not expect, a war with many casualties but with an amazing number of heroes. Certainly the health-care professionals that go above and beyond in providing care as well as the retired doctors and nurses who have returned to jobs that make a difference in controlling the enemy all deserve our respect. Because of them we can look forward to the light at the end of the tunnel.

Let’s thank them and pray for them.

Stay safe.