Increasingly it feels that we are living in a film, or a bad dream from which we cannot escape. This isn’t the reality I know, anyway. I think all of us feel a little like Harry, Ron, and Hermione . . . very anxious about fighting a monster that is dangerous and looming large.

Harry and his comrades fought Voldemort through seven books.  As our world wonders how long it will take to corner and kill COVID-19, I think we’re all starting to understand that our monster may at some point seem vanquished, only to come roaring back. It will take courage, determination, and perseverance before we can knock this disease back into the dark hole it crawled out of — and keep it there.

It is a time to hold our loved ones close. It is a time to donate to local food banks and charities that help the people who have lost jobs and are struggling to feed their families.

It is a time to do our parts to fight this thing; for some on the front lines, our doctors and nurses, first responders, and the folks that keep the rest of us supplied and running, it is particularly dangerous. For the rest of us, it is time to withdraw and do our parts to fight by knocking back the spread — by eliminating host bodies.

The most dangerous and dark times are coming. If we cease social distancing policies too soon, the chances are great the virus will come surging back to levels even higher than we are seeing now. I think we have to stay focused on the long game, and I have faith that our scientists will discover ways to successfully fight COVID-19, and find a vaccine that will protect the people of the world from this insidious disease.

In the meantime, we need to pray for all of the people on the frontlines. And we all need to stay focused on our fights . . . even if our fight is the simple act of staying home.