WOW…What Should I Do?
I’m very confused. I’m sixty-one and in reasonably good health. The state of Texas has reopened. Some people are still wearing masks. Some people aren’t wearing masks. I don’t want to get sick. I’m not aware of a cure for coronavirus. So, I continue to wear my mask. Am I still supposed to be wearing a mask? How long am I suppose to wear this mask? What should I do, signed…confused mask wearer
Answer by Gary Cochran,
Dear “Confused,”
Thanks for sharing your question. You identify yourself as “very confused”. Is it possible that you also feel conflicted? Maybe frustrated? Possibly anxious? Irritated? Even exasperated at times? If you don’t feel all of these, I’m aware of others that have expressed these feelings about this tension.
This dilemma of trying to determine what to do with the crossroads of protecting yourself and others, while wanting or needing to “reopen” your access to “the outside” of your “stay at home” existence. The voices of government officials, local/regional/national are saying “protect yourselves” with masks, social distancing of 6 feet, “stay at home”/quarantine, be careful, “take care of you”, and more.
While voices on the same local/regional/national platforms are saying “let’s go!”, get out there, restart your businesses, open the stores, open for commerce, open the churches, open the sidewalks and streets, open up, and let’s go! I certainly understand and appreciate both sentiments, and (most of) the reasoning behind their messages. In my view, each of these messages and perspectives have some merit and they make sense. There are some that are of an age or medical background/history that are more vulnerable. Their “re-entry” would seem to be more risky, potentially more dangerous, or more compromised.
There are some that have jobs requiring them to “re-open”, to get out of the house, to make an income in order to keep the business going, pay bills, and the list continues. There are countless lives, their stories, their circumstances, and more, that create this tension, leading to the question, your question, “What Should I Do?” Do I get out of quarantine? If so, should I wear a mask? What to do? My suggestion is that you take into consideration first and foremost, your own circumstances, your health, your age, your “need to re-open”, and your sense of peace. What is required for you to take care of you and those in your direct environment (family, etc.). Then you determine if you need to get out of your home. If so, then I recommend that you do what you need to protect yourself, wear your mask, keep “social distanced” as much as possible, and when you can, get back to your own space of safety and protection.
The truth is, we really cannot determine what others choose to do with this circumstance. Some will stay home, and reconsider each day, each week, or each month. Others are already out and doing what they do. Some will wear masks out of their homes, in their cars, in stores, at work, at churches, at parks, and more. Some will wear their masks selectively, at some places, but not all places. And some will not wear masks at all. Some will “social distance” and others will not do so. As in most of life, we all are ultimately left with the same reality, you will need to decide for you.
Others will need to decide for themselves. We will then need to deal with each other as we all make our own personal choices. And we will need to respect the choices that others make for themselves. There is probably the real challenge. That may be at the heart of your question. How do I make my own personal choices, while dealing and interfacing with others making their own choices. Quite frankly, the Lord gave all of us that same freedom for all of life.
As illustrated in Scripture, Joshua acknowledged that each person has the freedom to choose what seems to make sense to themselves, to live according to their own decisions, to follow their own beliefs, even the “gods” that they would choose to follow. But he also stated that he would decide for himself and for his family, stating, “but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)” There is probably a real challenge. That may be at the heart of your question. How do I make my own personal choices, while dealing with others making their own choices? And how do I respect the choices of others? Honestly, what other choice do we have? I hope this helps! God bless you in your choices!
Gary Cochran, MA, LPC-S
Prestoncrest Church of Christ (Dallas, TX)
Campbell Counseling Group (Richardson, TX)
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