I have to be upfront on this one, I hate wearing a mask! It’s uncomfortable. I am a smiler. I smile at people as I pass by and forget they cannot see me smiling because of my mask. Sometimes, my mask fogs up my shades. And sadly, I have not been the best citizen mask wearer.

Since Covid-19 arrived in the U.S., the CDC, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, has recommended that not only keeping social distance and regular washing of hands but wearing face coverings, masks. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

According to the CDC, the wearing of a mask is meant to limit the person to person spread of the Coronavirus. Our state has just made the wearing of masks mandatory because it appears the number of cases and hospitalizations are going in the wrong direction.

So, lately, I have been wearing my mask in stores but I have failed to wear it in other places where according to the guidelines or recommendations, I should have.

Why is that? Why have I been so fickled on this issue? Is it a right vs. left issue, conservative vs liberal? Actually, it does appear to be. Check out the people in your circle who are on either side and see if there is a connection.

Do the people who are against wearing masks wear seat belts?

Speaking of seat belts, I also hate wearing a seat belt, but I absolutely wear it every time I drive because it is mandatory. It is the law. Wait, is that it? Is my fickleness with the mask because it’s not the law? I’m pretty certain that’s not it. I think that it’s partly me being fickled, and partly me being selfish.

I know that many were against seatbelts. It restricted our freedom, the seat belt is uncomfortable, but according to the U.S. Department of Transporation, the wearing of seat belts reduces crash-related injuries. Most of our states have implemented seat belt laws.

The Coronavirus has really exposed my weaknesses, my sin. What is it that God wants me to see in this? How am I responding to it? How am I responding to the leaders who are trying to navigate us through this pandemic?

What if God’s purpose in this is to show us how far off we are? What if this mandate to wear masks reveal more about me in how I respond to it? Am I being arrogant? Am I being selfish? Am I failing to be loving?

A few weeks ago, I ran into some people from my church. At that time, I was wearing my mask, but we were so glad to see each other, we hugged. I believe I removed my mask while speaking with them, and once I returned to my car I remember that I had not sanitized my hands before connecting with them, as I usually do. A dread came over me.   What if I had the virus and passed it on? What if?

That’s what the masks are for to help limit the spread.

I am probably still going to fail at this miserably, but I hope to do better.

*Photo – Courtesy of Pixabay