A Christmas Tree with Masks

Last updated on: November 30, 2020 at 12:37 am by John Mark N. Reynolds

A Christmas Tree with Masks 2020-11-30T00:37:48-04:00 John Mark N. Reynolds

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Many of our Christmas pictures this COVID year will have masks over beloved faces. Our Christmas tree supplier, hooking us up with jollification, asked us to mask up, so we did.

Why not?

We did not have to get our tree at that store. We could have gone to an outside lot with no masking, but we like our local lot. The folks working there are a jolly lot and we were happy to support them. Times are tough, and my friends in economics reading the entrails of the economy, say that they will get tougher economically.

Solidarity for working people!

Time to be Houston strong.

I could, given the culture here, do as I please. Few would stop me, given that I am about to pay for a product. I can do as I will, but I will do as my friends here ask. I will mask and so make their lives a bit easier. Why make them worry? Why make them come and ask me to mask?

Liberty? Yes, no comprise there. What of those who cannot chose, who must mandate? What of other people? In a question of manners, a decent chap will compromise and so help his neighbor. If we had a governor like poor California, the calculus might be different, but here the problem is not so hard.

We can do as we would, so we can do as we should.

This is not about the merits of the scientific case so much as the ethical.

Do masks work to prevent the spread of the virus? The local doctors in Houston’s global-class medical community to whom I speak every other week say “Yes.” One works hospice in the virus and he tells me of younger adults who die of the disease. They ask for social distancing and masking. Since I know them, I know they are doing the best they can.

Many other local friends, and doctors I read online, have other opinions, some quite negative. They are not fools either. I am not a medical doctor, so have nothing to add to any medical debate.

When it comes to health, my sense is that we should err on the side of safety. My dear old Dad is in hospital with a serious issue and COVID would harm him severely. Why not help other people’s fathers? Why not do all I can, even if what I am doing is only marginally helpful? I would do greater things to help dear old Dad!

I am a small government guy, so I do not like mandates from any omnipotent state and always am skeptical of any consensus that ignores dissent.

This is not that.

Instead, I do what I am politely asked to do by people who prefer erring on the side of safety. Are they right? That is not my job. Instead, I stand in solidarity with them in their hard decision. They are not sure what is right, they are not medicos either, but they are doing what is asked of them by the Texas. These are not cowards, but business people doing the best they can. Texas is no omnipotent state, not governed by fascists or communists.

There was nothing lost in cooperating. I am no Rosa Parks, and a mask mandate is not segregation at the end of Jim Crow and slavery. Our family did what we should have done, not credit to us, and have good jollity buying a tree, masks over nose and faces covered.

Why not?

Spiritual Reflections

Previous Post

November 27, 2020

Advent Rigor: Joy Against the World

Next Post

November 29, 2020 Jollification, First Year, Thirty-Fifth Year

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Apologetics Art Culture Education On Books On Education Philosophy Politics Pop Culture Spiritual Reflections Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 July 2025 June 2025 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 December 2023 June 2023 September 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the first Judge of Israel?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Othniel Deborah Gideon Samson

Books by This Author John Mark Reynolds

See All Titles »