28 Apr Coronavirus (Part 8)

Last week, I proposed keeping a Corona Era diary or log. One of the reasons I suggested this is because it can make us more acutely aware of utilizing the extra time we have on our hands productively (for those who are not going to work or are not busy with a handful of children under foot). Although it is hard to believe, we will, bezras Hashem put this all behind us. When people are skeptical about this, I tell them just look at the example of the Spanish flu of 1918. While it infected one-third of the world’s population and killed 30 to 50 million people worldwide, and almost 700,000 people in the United States, it also came to an end. It started benignly in March 1918, with a horrific second wave in the fall of 1918, but it died out by the spring of 1919. This flu was of course much more deadly, killing young people by drowning their lungs within 24 hours. Yet, we put it behind us and went back to normal living. With our much more sophisticated medicine, we will do so as well and hopefully much faster. When this happens, the very first time we will use the excuse, “But I have no time,” If we are brutally honest, we will ask ourselves, “Why didn’t I do it when I was quarantined for months?” So, I would like to give my dear readers some suggestions in order that we don’t regret later why we didn’t think of doing these pursuits when we had the time. Let’s start with learning the meaning of our davening. So often we think with chagrin that we don’t know what so many of the words mean or we don’t understand how they flow, one sentence with the next. But, we ruefully excuse ourselves by saying “Who has the time.” Well, now we have the time. Take out an ArtScroll and learn the meaning of the daily yom, or familiarize yourself what the words mean in U’va l’Tzion or even the different stanzas of the Halleluyahs. Here’s another idea. We always fret about the fact that we never learned Navi in yeshiva. Carve out just 15 minutes a day and start learning Navi. Don’t start from Yehoshua because the cartography will slow you down. Start from Shoftim. You’ll be fascinated to learn how the shofet Ehud ben Geirah assassinated Eglon the king of Moav, how Devorah orchestrated the successful battle of Sisra. Or perhaps you always wanted to learn Kitzur Shulchan Aruch. Now’s the time. Take up Mesilas Yesharim and finally become a bal mussar. Here’s another idea. You always wanted to get your seforim in order so that you can find what you need. Make it a project. What about that basement or attic that you wanted to clear up? Now’s the time. Here’s a romantic idea. Why don’t you take some newly found discretionary time and write a love letter to your spouse, thinking of the things that you have really learned to appreciate. Perhaps you might even find time to formulate a poem. What a great use of time. Another idea. With the frantic pace that we normally live, we usually don’t have time to connect with parents or married children. Set aside an hour to call an elderly parent or a married child. That’s time well spent that we otherwise might not have gotten around to. Then, there’s the opportunity of hisbodedus, to meditate. Remember, Moshe Rabbeinu, Dovid HaMelech, Avraham Avinu as well as Yaakov Avinu all opted to be shepherds so that they could have time to be alone and contemplate. This is a lost art. As we are quarantined, we can try to recapture this practice, to think about what Hashem wants from us and how we can better prepare in this world for Olam HaBa. To question ourselves if we are using our money wisely and if we are correctly prioritizing our usage of time. We can ask ourselves the telling questions, “What is it like to live with me?” “How self-centered am I really?” and “How much of a difference am I really making with my life?” Once again, let’s not forget to pray for those who are sick – that they get better, to pray for the safety of our brave doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, to beseech Hashem that we not get sick, not from COVID nor from any other disease, and be spared from even having any scares. Let’s make sure to call, FaceTime, Skype, or Zoom to the elderly, the scared, and to those who are alone and lonely. May Hashem help us use our time wisely and fruitfully, and in that merit may Hashem bless us with long life, good health, and everything wonderful.