That was the response of a congregant to the question, “How are you doing?” and surely many – if not most – of us would respond in kind. Hopefully you and yours, near and far, are not afflicted with the virus (any disease for that matter), but even if not the emotional roller coaster is something that is now part of everyday life. We might know people who themselves or are afflicted with the virus, or the effect of it has impacted the poor and homeless in greater Harrisonburg. Indeed, there are few populations who are immune from the consequences of such a pandemic.

Most of us are being cautious, and if not, we are told through edicts to be cautious. There are those who think many of those restrictions are silly; there are also those who believe they’re not strict enough.

In Sh’mini (Leviticus 9:1-11:47), the Torah portion we’ll be reading in a few short weeks, we hear of the sudden death of Aaron’s sons, Nadav and Avihu. They offer “strange fire,” apparently a sacrifice not commanded by God. One commentator (Rabbi Shefa Gold) states, “After recounting the story of (the sons), which is about ecstasy, wild abandon, supreme intoxication, Shemini goes on to describe the path of discernment, responsibility and sobriety. Our spiritual challenge,” she continues, “is to embrace the wisdom of both of these paths.”

Of course there are daily examples of both, having nothing to do with the virus. Nonetheless this disease heightens our awareness that in all aspects of life we have choices…not following a godly path or living with the blessings of discernment and responsibility. This is not to say that the victims did not follow the godly path; the virus knows no morality or ethics. But in terms of the guidelines, advice and ultimately, the demand of shelter-in-place, we have to remember that and, for our sake and those around us, T H I N K and A C T appropriately. Only that way and, of course, the cure itself, will this be one less burden we all face.

S T A Y H E A L T H Y!

Will Rogers said, “We could certainly slow down the aging process
if it had to work its way through Congress.”