LETTER TO EDITOR:

2020: the year that will pop out of history textbooks, closely following the words “Covid-19” or “Coronavirus”.

Whether you’re the owner of a local business, struggling to see how you’ll make it through; a person who is at-risk, taking every safety precaution you can; a teacher or student, dealing with premature goodbyes and the cancellation of so many anticipated events; or a parent, struggling with the loss of work, taking care of the kids, or searching for some way to make ends meet; this will be an event that years from now, you’ll be asked, “​Where were you​...?”.

Hmm... Until now, I’ve never thought of my life like that. Like, “Huh, years from now, what will I say I did during ​this​?”. Did I spend my time surrounded by hoarded toilet paper and Campbell cans, watching Netflix and Disney+ all day? Maybe I chose to toss all precautions aside as some sort of over-reaction and live how I want? Or will I honestly answer, regardless of what it ends up doing to the world, that during the pandemic I did what I could for my neighbors, family and the at-risk person I might not even know? Will I someday testify that I reached out to the people and community around me in creative and loving ways?

Lord, have mercy. I hope that I can look back and see this pandemic as the same thing that pushed me into deep reflection and action. That I can say, “I loved those around me”. We can do this through simple things: calling neighbors, writing letters, donating food. For now, I am realizing just how disconnected I have been from those I ought to be loving.

Let’s stop talking about community and let’s live like one (while staying home and practicing safety)!

Brody Hed

Becker, MN