Our family recently drove to Colorado. We wondered about the mask requirements in Iowa and Nebraska as we stopped for gas and restroom breaks. Prior to leaving for our road trip, we were aware that Colorado has a mandatory mask law in public places for the entire state and so we made sure each of us packed a mask. I understand Governor Tim Walz is considering a similar statewide mask mandate for Minnesota.
I realize that our Grace congregation has a broad range of perspectives on many topics including mask wearing and re-opening the church. Being in Colorado provided insight into how the mask mandate impacts life in public places. First, nearly 100% of individuals (children and adults) wear masks while in public in Colorado. It is very rare to see anyone in a social setting without a mask, unless they are dining outside. Second, the tension between those wearing masks and those not wearing masks was effectively eliminated by the mandate. The palpable tension I feel at the retail stores in Minnesota was not present in Colorado, and it was a welcomed reprieve.
I haven’t ever worked in the medical field or any other profession that required wearing a mask, so mask wearing isn’t second nature to me. Actually, I cannot stand any tight covering of my face and neck. Even in early March of this year I never dreamed that I would wear a mask due to the pandemic. I remember the first time I wore a mask for COVID reasons to the local grocery store. It felt so strange — like I was in another world (and I was). A week later as I pulled into the same grocery store parking lot, a thought (a prayer?) popped into my head when I saw a millennial man wearing a mask on his way into the store. At this stage, perhaps a little more than half of the shoppers were wearing masks, depending on where and when I shopped. My unconscious thought / prayer that morning in the grocery store parking lot was, “thank you, God, for millennials who are willing to wear masks.” Instantly I burst into tears, “What in the world?? Why am I thankful for millennials wearing masks?! What is happening??!!”
I am not a “germ phobe”. For example, if I can beat our dog to it, I am likely to pick up and eat the bite of food that I accidentally dropped on our kitchen floor. I am not OCD about germs. However, COVID made me more aware of my hand washing hygiene and my desire to protect others around me. My mom is 81 years old and lives in a senior living apartment building. I used to visit her weekly. Because of COVID, I have not been to my mom’s apartment since early and I haven’t hugged her since that same day.
When I took the Grace survey about re-opening for in-person worship, I realized that I am on the cautious side. I don’t personally fear becoming sick with or dying from COVID. Instead I worry about my family, friends, and specifically my older friends who attend Grace. I personally know six people who have had COVID (all survived). I know five friends within our Grace community who have lost loved ones to the Coronavirus. In addition to my elderly mom, I have a family member with a pre-existing health condition. When I wear my mask in public I think about these people. Recently I have also thought of mask wearing in the context of Colossians 3:12-14 that talks about our wardrobe:
“So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength and discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all purpose garment. Never be without it.” (The Message Bible).
If we are mandated to wear masks in Minnesota, perhaps we can picture that we are also putting on our “basic, all purpose garment” love, and never be without either one of them.
Dear God, we keep wondering, “what’s next?” and “how much longer?” We don’t know the answers to these questions and so many others. Please give us compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience as we navigate these next weeks and months. May we never be without love. Amen.
Nancy Jenkins is a member of Grace. She is a part of SALT and a part of our Mental Health Team. She wrote this reflection earlier this week before Governor Walz had a decision on mandatory masks for Minnesota. I am thankful for her perspective of clothing ourselves in love.
