When the Spirit Moves

Good morning!!

It has been extremely difficult these last two weeks to write because what can I say to Human Beings who are feeling hopeless and helpless? It's heartbreaking and devastating to see the death tolls and cases rise every single day, I know. You're going stir crazy in your homes and you're starting to get on your own nerves. But what's crazy to me is who's essential and who isn't.


This brings me back to a time during my Active Duty days...


Picture it, NTC, Cali circa 2014:


… I was sitting in the TOC with some other Soldiers as we were listening to the "Battle" take place (I'm not going to explain what all this means, so just bear with me.) when all of a sudden, our FOB was under attack. From across the room someone shouts, "ALL NON-ESSENSIAL PERSONNEL OUTSIDE!" and of course I'm a little confused because I am very essential. My life matters to me, I don't care what anybody else thinks. So, I'm just sitting there. Then 1LT approaches me and tells me that I have to go outside. I had no gear, so I was trying to explain to him that my SFC would be back in a moment with my gear and then I'd go. Oh, he wasn't trying to hear that. Now, he's practically pushing me out of the TOC as my SFC appears with my gear. My SFC and I both gear up and I follow him to a spot that is concealed enough for us to see but not be seen. And we sat there waiting for either the enemy to close in on us for someone to call out, "ALL CLEAR!"



I sat there thoroughly confused because how can I be in an essential role, but also be a non-essential personnel??? In that moment, I realized that NOBODY cared about me.  I was just another SPC. Another 42A. Just another Soldier. And sadly, with this pandemic others are starting to feel the same way!


It is unfortunate that we are being led by leaders who aren't comprehending the magnitude of this PANDEMIC! The president of the United States called COVID-19 a hoax for months and even disbanded the group that former President Obama put in place for such a situation as this! Now, look at us. It's a darn shame that we've been parading around this world as if the United States is all that and a bag of chips, and yet here we are with the death tolls rising because we do not have simple, SIMPLE medical equipment!


I'm just going to say it, the United States, as a whole, is selfish! We are a capitalistic country and nobody wants to admit it and yet, we're displaying the behaviors now more than ever! The American people don't wanna vote for Bernie Sanders because he's a capitalist? Ha! Look in the mirror, Darling! I'd bet that if you weren't getting paid at your job then you wouldn't show up, so that makes you, too, a capitalist. You want YOUR capital! We are just too divided. How's that for irony? Here in the United States of America, we are a divided people. Folks just want to do what they want to do without thinking of the harm and danger it could bring to another Human Being!


It's a shame that major corporations are laying off their employees. Why? Because they don't have the resources and the funding to pay their employees when they're not making enough money! That's an awful situation to put yourself and others in especially during a time like this! Now, more than 10 million American are trying to file for unemployment. Folks are left unpaid. No health insurance. And wondering how in the heck they're going to pay for their bills and meals. And not to mention the students. Lord, have mercy!


So, where is the silver lining?


Well, an old preacher once said, "It's a sin to go to sleep as dumb as you woke up!" So, we have to use that God-sense that I spoke about in my previous post! Understand that courage isn't the absence of fear, but the understanding that there is something far more important than fear. And your health and safety is far more important than fear, right now.


I am praying for a speedy recovery. We all want things to go back to normal, but the reality of it is, nothing is normal anymore. We are forever changed by what's been going on lately. I just hope that we've learned a great deal about ourselves and this world for the betterment of humanity.


I'll end with a quote by Dr. Maya Angelou because her birthday is tomorrow and I love her dearly. "History, despite its wrenching pain cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage need not to be lived again."






So without further adieu...


It IS a pleasure to meet you!