Last week’s column was a reprint of what I had written in March of 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic was unfolding. I indicated then this week’s would be taking a look where we are today in comparison.
We have come a long way in the past 12 or 13 months.
The pandemic created pandemonium in many sectors of our lives.
The Stock Market dropped 2,300 points a year ago, its worst day in three decades. On Monday of this week, the Dow Jones and S&P 500 set new records.
A year ago the NCAA canceled not only March Madness, but all the winter and spring sports championships.
Monday night, Baylor and Gonzaga were playing for the National Championship.
The NBA suspended play indefinitely. It’s going great guns again, though crowds are limited, some venues allowing no fans.
The PGA canceled tournaments for three weeks and the Masters Golf Tournament was also put on hold.
This Thursday, the 2021 Masters Tournament starts.
A year ago, the OSSAA postponed the state high school basketball tournament. Last month, champions in all classes were crowned.
The list of cancellations, suspended and postponed activities just went on and on. It was almost endless.
Today, things are getting a little bit more back to normal. High school and College athletics are having competitions with some restrictions still, but at least they are happening.
Since three vaccines have been approved and two of them have been distributed in Oklahoma and across the nation since December, millions are being vaccinated.
A third vaccine has been distributed for the last couple of months now helping to vaccinate even more people.
The pandemonium and the panic have subsided. The craziness seems to be diminished, almost nonexistent.
Many mask mandates are being lifted, though masks are still recommended. Social distancing in some settings has been relaxed. High school graduations are going to be held on time.
Common sense, should still prevail.
We can do so much more than we could do at this time a year ago.
Most churches are even getting a little more back to normal.
Many of the actions being taken by local, state and federal officials a year ago, even though out of an abundance of caution, are no longer needed.
I’m a Eucharistic minister at my church. Those of us serving in some of those ministries are not yet needed, but eventually I’m sure we will be again. It’s just a matter of time.
That is wanting to be extremely careful and cautious.
I may not have agreed with everything that was being done, but I do believe there was good reason for it.
We had a long ways to go at this time a year ago. We knew very little about the virus.
I reiterate that we have come a long way. That’s a good thing. But this virus is still with us so some caution I believe is warranted. It will get even better I believe in the future