Serenity, Courage, and Wisdom

Are you weary of the abundance of Coronavirus gossip? The profusion of opinions and angles surrounding this issue are just amazing—and confusing. The actual virus is now yesterday’s story. What’s left is the political and economic fallout, along with various measures of government control, and uncertainty.

We’ve faced a wide spectrum of emotions in the last several weeks. Sentiments run high as we encounter concerns of health, the economy, food shortages, schooling, jobs, vaccines…. and the list goes on.

Those of us who had opinions differing from the official narrative during the early outbreak likely rescinded our original views—at least to a degree, and perhaps returned to them given the extended shutdown and the uncommon developments in recent weeks. Early on in the outbreak, I had views that I expressed in Coronavirus…from a Calm Perspective , questioning the actual virus. But as time went on I wasn’t so sure of that view. And now….well, let’s just say we’re not sure again.

My libertarian mindset struggles with the control measures and fear mongering taking place. The way I see it, freedom and risk are inseparable. To reword it, security always comes at the expense of liberty. When the powers that be dangle “safety” like the proverbial carrot on a stick, be sure it means control. Ben Franklin once said; Those who would give up essential Liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.

There’s increasing questions surrounding the status quo story. The murmurings of skewed numbers, of hospitals being paid x amount for Covid diagnosis, of misdiagnosis causing disproportional case numbers, are too many to ignore. There’s rumor of a mandatory vaccine interwoven with the world of commerce and the ability to transact, whisperings of a globalist agenda, whatever that means? With elections looming, there’s chatter about this being a Democratic scheme to defeat Republican leadership. How much of this contains a grain of truth is beyond me, but it causes folks to question the truth of the official story.

Likely none of us has resources enough to discern exactly what’s going on, except for the knowledge that the mainstream news isn’t giving us the whole story. As Wendell Berry once said, “We cannot know the whole truth, which belongs to God alone, but our task nevertheless is to seek to know what is true.

Seeking truth may be necessary, but above all, wisdom and discernment may be more important. How are they attained? I am far from wise or discerning, but know of One who is. Let us all appeal to Him thus;

God, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the Courage to change the things I can, and the Wisdom to know the difference.

If ever this petition was relevant—and needed, it’s now. And that’s the View from the Country.

Quotes worth Re-quoting –

 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ~ Holy Bible James 1:5 NIV

Let us not pray to be sheltered from dangers but to be fearless when facing them. ~ Rabindranath Tagore