Another Line to Divide

 One of my favorite films is the 1996 movie MICHAEL starring John Travolta as the arch angel (“he’s not that kind of angel….”) come to earth who lives with a widowed elderly woman in Iowa.  At one point, Michael says, “I invented standing in line. Before everybody milled around, it was a mess. So, one day I said, ‘Why not make a line.’” 

We’ve gotten quite good at making and standing, and yes, even cutting into lines.  During this pandemic journey, lines have been revelatory in the vitality of our society; from a justice standard we are failing miserably. 

 A crisis reveals who one is as well as the character of the collective. Most recently this is evidenced in distribution of the vaccine. We are freaked and clenched. A shot provides an exhale, an opportunity to get back to being with family and friends. Each of us both want and need a vaccine. The roll-out of getting folks vaccinated has not run smoothly, it has lurched, lost speed and left many wondering in earnest if the USA can anymore accomplish major undertakings. 

Yes, we have each been impacted, yet the plan is to follow the designated guidelines. Frontline health care workers, persons who reside in nursing homes or assisted living facilities, the elderly and those with serious health conditions you go to the head of the line. Wealth, connections and the number of strings one holds and can pull should have zero bearing. 

We are not very good with lines. We look to see if there is a shortcut. We go to another place, city, county, state to see if we can get in there. We attempt to bribe someone who may have connections to get us what we want. 

My advice to all of us…. Wait your turn. 

Stay smart. Be safe. Be patient.

Wait your turn. 

As you wait, consider the many in poverty, those without access to computers, the individuals who no one bothers to know and therefore have no one in-the-know to get them into the line. 

Though a surly start, let us focus on the positive actions among us:

·       You go, Alaska for using dog sleds, prop planes, canoes and boats to get the vaccine to folks! 

·       You go, Oregon health workers who on their way to distribute vaccines became stranded along the highway due to a major snow storm and gave the vaccine to fellow motorists!

·       You go, Kedron Health Center in Los Angeles who are barrier busting and making priority the vulnerable without transportation or internet access and computers and going to where those folks are to get them vaccinated.

As we wait our turn instead of pouting or being all pissy, let’s consider the many in poverty, those without access to computers, the individuals who no one bothers to know and therefore have no one in-the-know to get them into the line.  Instead of a line to divide, may we draw a wider circle.