George Pasek

I wear a mask — a medical-type mask or a homemade mask or a nice commercially made COVID-19 mask. I am masked whenever I am not at my Cody home, or in the car commuting or my pastor’s office. Why?

Simple: since March we have been advised by a variety of medical and governmental opinion. The data is clear, that a mask is one of the essentials for preventing the spread of ... but you don’t need me to utter what has been said and is now being repeated with intensity by the Republican governors of Texas and Arizona.

“But I’m not sick.” “I can make responsible decisions.” “A mask will not prevent me from getting it.” I’ve heard it all!

Look, wearing a mask is not about you! Wearing my mask protects you from what I have, if I have it … hey, I might be asymptomatic. How would I feel if I gave COVID-19 to someone who gave it to somebody who gave it to the neighbor who gave it to cousin Al and he visited Grandma … and she died? Far-fetched? Nope, that is how it is happening.

Nowhere in the Holy Bible is it ever just about self: yourself or myself. It is always about the “other,” be it sojourners or Israelite shepherds or the disciples. The People of Faith have been enjoined to care for and respect neighbor, widow, orphan, foreigner, sinner, lame, blind, saint, poor, sick … Jesus even had the audacity to instruct his followers to pray for enemies!

So who is it that irritates you? Who threatens you? Who disrespects you? With whom do you disagree? Who do you want gone? Democrats? Republicans? RINOs? Socialists? Facists? Neo-Confederates? Fox News? CNN? Conspiracy mongers? Fact checkers? Elites? Tourists? Good ol’ boys? Presbyterian pastor? Mormon bishop? Feminists? Wall Street? People who wear masks or folks who refuse?

In Jesus’ last moments during execution by the Romans, he prayed, “Father, forgive them …”

This is NOT about you. It isn’t even about me.

(George Pasek is the interim pastor of Union Presbyterian Church in Powell.)