The COVID pandemic seems to have been winding down for us in the past few months, now to the point where all our lockdowns and restrictions have disappeared. Vaccination rates are going up, infection rates are low, at least in my city. Now going to church, the gym, and the grocery store as everything looks back the way it was in 2019 feels a little weird. Taking my mask off at church after the mask requirement was removed felt weirdly uncomfortable. A testament to habit forming I guess; I was rarely in a position to need to wear a mask in the first place and whenever I was it was only for small amounts of time. But by doing it consistently over the space of eight or nine months we all became so used to it. Well, at least some did. Though some of the social guidelines and restrictions felt a little too arbitrary to me, I respect that in most cases government leaders were probably trying to do something to help, following the advice of scientists who were likewise doing the best they could with what little information they had.

The pandemic isn’t over, in some countries it is just as bad or worse than it ever has been. It may get worse again in places where it has now decreased. For some few the pandemic never existed and for others it has been life changing. For me it was mostly an inconvenience. But with all the social and economic restrictions and commotion that surged into every news and media outlet and dominated for many months, it feels like something more permanent should have changed, rather than society getting immediately back to where we left off in March of 2020. Back to normal if there is such a thing.

For my part I still feel a small sense of trepidation. Not over fear of the virus or now being within six feet of another person. Perhaps it is that I feel a greater sensitivity to the social, environmental and political hazards that are increasingly obvious and malign and my responsibilities as a parent to provide, prepare and protect my family from them. Add to that the increasing possibilities of the unknown. Of more immediate concern: Will my air conditioner make it through this summer? Will this record heat cause power outages? Will the mega drought cause the first ever water shortage in my city? And for that matter, even a cyber-attack can cause a shortage of practically anything. There is always a never-ending list of possibilities to worry about, but stepping back from the brink we will hopefully maintain the perspective that 2020 could have granted, if you were willing to learn. Preparation overcomes fear, love overcomes fear and the people you love make the challenge worth overcoming.

Can we not be so quick to forget, when forgetting is in our nature? Can we remember the need to be prepared for food and supply shortages, travel restrictions, healthcare, and education challenges? Most importantly we should ask about the pandemic, “What have you learned?” I feel that some may have learned something, some a lot, some too little, and others probably nothing.

The next time panic buying makes resources scarce, will you be running to the store along with everyone else? When schools are not available will you be able to teach your children effectively? If a job is lost and income is cut off, will you have resources to rely on? Have you learned to rely on and help those around you? Have you learned what things in life have greater value?

I would hope to be able to answer these questions correctly. The fact is that the next event and its consequences may be equally as surprising and unexpected as the last making the best preparation difficult. But being difficult is not reason enough to not do it. At least we can remember by asking ourselves, making a personal list with the answers. What have you learned?