Coping with Coronavirus: ‘This too shall pass’ … and in the meantime

My favorite statement so far about the Coronavirus was made by Casa de Peregrinos Executive Director Lorenzo Alba at the Las Cruces City Council’s special work session on Monday evening, March 16. Lorenzo, who is fast becoming one of my personal heroes, referred to the Las Cruces response to the virus as “Crisis 2.0” when he said, “We got through the migrant crisis together, and we can get through this together.”

I also got this quote from Sharon Steinborn of the Anxiety Treatment Center of the Southwest: “Understand that although this is a scary time for everyone, it is also time limited. This will not last forever. Hang in there.”

Amen and amen again.

I’ll soon be 63 years old, so I’m in the “you’re-old-so-you’re-at-a-higher-risk” group; but for me personally, this pandemic is far more about the fear and anxiety than anything else.

This is my daily practice while the current situation continues, and includes thoughts I remind myself of several times throughout the day:

• Right now, in this moment, I’m okay. Unless I am being chased by a predator or someone with a weapon, fear is almost always about what might happen in the future. My sister says FEAR stands for False Evidence Appearing Real. (Richard Coltharp tells me this comes from his much-beloved Gary Busey.)
• I have so much to be grateful for, and I am absolutely not alone in this. I have family, friends, neighbors and an incredibly generous and supportive community I can reach out to for help if I need it.
• This too, shall pass. Remember how terrifying 9/11 was? We got through it. Remember how overwhelmed many people thought we would be less than a year ago, because of all the people seeking asylum in the United States and being brought to Las Cruces? We came together as a community with strong leadership and helped those people with grace and kindness.
• I am not powerless. I remain open to whatever this situation brings that can help me grow as an individual and as a member of this community. And, I can help others even in a time of limited contact. Imagine what would happen at Casa de Peregrinos emergency food program if each one of us donated $20 (120 meals) or even $10 or $5 or $1? In fact, I just visited www.casadeperegrinos.org and donated $20. It took less than one minute to complete, and I feel better already! I also posted a link to Casa de Peregrinos on Facebook so other people can easily donate. Anything you can do to help others is empowering, and no act or gesture is small or unimportant.

You can also help people challenged by homelessness at Mesilla Valley Community of Hope by donating at www.mvcommunityofhope.org or the Gospel Rescue Mission (www.lcgrm.org) or Casa de Peregrinos childcare program for children struggling with homelessness (www.casadeperegrinos.org) or La Casa, Inc. domestic violence program (www.lacasainc.org) or any number of other amazing programs that provide vital services to so many people in Las Cruces and Doña Ana County. Search the web and find a way to help.

Here is the first stanza of “The King's Ring,” by Theodore Tilton (1835-1907):

“Once in Persia reigned a king,

Who upon his signet ring

Graved a maxim true and wise,

Which, if held before his eyes,

Gave him counsel, at a glance,

Fit for every change or chance:

Solemn words, and these are they:

'Even this shall pass away!'”