NOTES, 20 AUGUST 2021
Greetings, blog reader, on Friday, August 20, 2021. This has been a tough week in many ways. There is no point in trying to pretend otherwise. We are in a hard time both at home and abroad and we must endure what we wish we could avoid. We did not ask for this, but here we are.
PANDEMIC. Getting worse by the day, particularly in our southeastern states.
South Carolina is on track to surpass the worst peak of the pandemic of last January. Find the chart for SC here . In the last 14 days, cases in SC were up 53%, hospitalizations 87%, and deaths a staggering 366%. In all, 10,182 South Carolinians have fallen victim to the coronavirus. Stop for a moment and let that sink in.
In spite of the terrifying sweep of the virus, South Carolinians remain vaccine hesitant. While in the United States, more than half the population has been fully vaccinated, in SC the figure is 41.9%.
In Alabama, the emergency is even worse. Find the chart for AL here . In the last 14 days, AL has seen 33% more cases, 59% more hospitalizations, and 228% more deaths. AL is now at the same level of infection as the highest peak of last January and on track to exceed that point greatly. In all, 11,914 Alabamians have died in this plague. Pause for a moment in remembrance.
In spite, or at least in full disregard, of this terrifying health emergency, Alabamians remain the most vaccine hostile of all Americans. The state has the lowest rate of the fully vaccinated, at just 35.8%.
Now that school is back in session, all indications are that the pandemic will worsen, at least in our local states. I know two children who returned to school greatly excited to be back after a year and a half out. A few days on, this kindergartner and third grader tested positive and are now at home in quarantine. They are not happy campers. No one would be.
On top of the world-wide plague comes the humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan. Who can watch the pictures on television from Kabul without heartbreak? Countless thousands of terrified and desperate people, men, women, and children, are risking life and limb to escape from a ruling force infamous for its harsh and murderous tactics. We all want to help the people trying to flee but can only look on in horror. And, on top of this, we weep at the ghastly scenes of the earthquake in Haiti. One may wonder what more can the Haitian people endure. It is one hardship after another.
So, the news this week has been especially hard to take: plagues, wars, earthquakes. Yet, we must go on and do so with the courage and faith we claim.
Finally, at long last, the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina has a diocesan bishop. Ruth Woodliff-Stanley took up residence in Charleston last Monday. All Episcopalians in South Carolina should shout at once, Welcome Happy Morning! To be sure, she is not officially in office. Her ordination and consecration will be on 2 October at Grace Church Cathedral, in Charleston. The Standing Committee sent out a letter this week announcing a scale back of the festivities. The ceremony will still be at Grace on the 2nd, but with highly limited seating. The church holds 600-700 people but with "covid" spacing can accommodate perhaps half that. The attending bishops, diocesan clergy, and local delegates should have priority. This will not leave much space for others. Thankfully, the event will be live-streamed. I plan to stay home and watch on my computer.
The Anglican Diocese of South Carolina is likewise forging ahead. They have scheduled a "walkabout" for their three candidates in preparation for the election of the bishop to follow Mark Lawrence. Both parts of the pre-schism diocese are bravely moving forward with new leadership.
On a personal note, in RE to my last blog past, my family member who is in the hospital is doing well. However, under "covid" rules of the hospital, I cannot visit.
So, we are in a hard time. Let's just accept that grim reality. The question is how we cope with all this adversity. We do it in different ways. As a student of history, I am drawn to the hard times of the past for information and inspiration. Lately, I have returned to the Second World War in books and TV documentaries. Eric Larson's recent bestseller "The Splendid and the Vile" is an excellent account of Churchill and Hitler. The moral won over the immoral but only after a superhuman effort. We are in a situation now that, although it does not come close to the seriousness of WWII, still calls for our own superhuman efforts. We must go on. As Churchill, we will go on.
Indeed, life does go on, at least in my garden now in its late summer mode. For whatever reason, dragon flies are abundant now. Here is a male Window Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) with its beautiful black and white markings. The beauty of God's great creation is all around us, even in the humble dragon fly. Peace.
