I have a problem. Here I am facing a blank screen, trying to collect my thoughts and deciding how to avoid the elephant in the room. Writers often struggle over what to write about. We try to steer our thoughts away from the obvious. We think: “Everyone has written about it. It’s the same old news. How much can you say?”

But it is difficult these days.

There is a pall of gloom and an air of sadness everywhere you go. You have to be in a coma not to notice. I know I am not the only one who sees the fear and foreboding in the faces around me. One of those faces is mine. We have become paralyzed. We stand still, as if in suspended animation, and think and talk about nothing other than the virus.

The internet is overflowing with news, fake and real. There is advice with creative ways to combat the attack, and theories presented by experts, fake and real. I read about a Japanese doctor who suggests we hold our breath for X number of seconds and if we don’t cough, we’re okay, we don’t have it. Then there’s that garlic drink.

But my favorite so far is the video of an Italian grandmother who suggests a wink instead of a kiss or shaking hands. But top of the list was lavati le mani. Grazie, Nonna.

I don’t remember anything recent or even in the faraway past that has occupied our minds as much as this. It is like a dark cloud that hovers and won’t go away.

There is too much information, some say. Many so-called pundits have their own versions of conspiracy theories and are calling it a political ploy. Really?

Business news is not helping. More gloom and doom. Even the entertainment industry has dimmed its lights.

A spark!

In the flood of hysterical text messages and depressing posts, I came across the voice of one very sensible young woman who went on Facebook recently and had this to say:

“Suddenly, there is mass hysteria, suddenly so much hate is posted all over, for China, over even toilet paper and paper towels, over Trump, over DU30, over fake news, over CNN, over whoever said something you don’t agree with. We all can’t even give each other a hug. We can’t even hold hands? We can’t even sneeze and expect a ‘God bless you’ in return. Instead we get dirty stares.

“C’mon folks, we are better than this!

“Stay calm, wash your hands, and don’t forget to pray! Pray against evil! That’s what we should be protecting ourselves against! “We will get over this, and yet if we panic and allow ourselves to be sucked in, we are allowing evil to triumph.

“God will protect us, let us continue to put our trust in Him! And Him alone!”

Amen! And thank you, Ica Sebastian.

Time to think

I have been trying to stay calm in my casita, and not come down with cabin fever.

And the quiet makes me wonder. Aside from being a reminder of good hygiene, could this crisis be a lesson about staying home, interacting with family, and doing without the frills and frivolities we have grown accustomed to?

An aside here: When you think about it, there is nothing new with the idea of social distancing. People on their devices started that trend long ago. The gap is not wide enough? But I digress.

Goodness of people

A quarantined wife and mother in Wuhan, the epicenter of the outbreak, recently wrote a touching piece. Apparently locked out in their apartment complex for over 50 days, she found something good to post.

Her first statement hit me: “Our family life has never been better. Seven weeks home together, with very little outside influence or distractions, we were forced to reconnect with one another and learn how to communicate better, and give each other space.”

She speaks about seeing the goodness of people.

What struck me was her observation about birds singing outside her window on the 26th floor. “I never heard them. I know now they were just muted and crowded by the traffic and people. All day long now I hear birds singing and it stops me in my tracks to hear the sound of their wings.

“Because of the lock down we get to watch spring slowly unfold right in front of us, with no work, traffic, pollution and other distractions. I have pulled up my chair and am ready for the Creator’s show.

“My prayer life has never been better. I am discovering the good gifts that God has given me and my family.

“God is providing so many opportunities for good while we are here. We are at peace in the epicenter of the virus. We are at peace in the epicenter of His will.”

Amazing. I had to take a deep breath.

The last time I was in a crowded place was at the closing night of “Joseph the Dreamer.”

The show was nothing less than phenomenal. There was not a dry eye in the audience. For some it was an epiphany of sorts. It was a spiritual experience. At the final curtain, social distancing be damned, we all stood as one as we cheered the fantastic cast and crew.

And we left with our spirits buoyed, our hearts at peace. We were reminded that there is hope. When God closes a door He opens a window. Indeed He does.