Short-Time Immunity

After a few minutes, with my mind working through a deep paragraph in a book, the phrase “short-time immunity” popped up. The storyline dealt with the common cold, but the book covered life after something worse than the pandemic we’ve been living through these past 30+ months.

So many diseases and conditions have been met, manhandled, and conquered. We’ve been victorious over polio, mumps, measles, and diphtheria with a vaccine. Do you get the picture? We are learning suitable lessons on distancing, hand-washing, not touching our faces so much, and how to stay home if we are symptomatic.

Short-time immunity may be facing the disease with medicine,
and developing some new habits.
The key is learning how to protect ourselves the best.

Imagine with me the common cold. [Source] There are some 200 viruses that create the symptoms we’ve grown accustomed to, and, supposedly, once you’ve built up the immunity to a virus, you don’t have to deal with it again.

The problem with any virus, and we are watching the pandemic results show this to us month after month. They mutate into new variants (once called strains). Old vaccines are no match for them, and we see this with an annual flu shot manufactured to hit the prevalent variants this year, hopefully. Immunity for one does not necessarily mean you are immune to new variants.

Google the phrase, “how many have died from covid around the world.” The statistics show approximately 6.5 million have succumbed from 605 million cases. As we are nearing eight billion in the world population, simple math shows that about 13% of the population has experienced a SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) event. Of those, approximately 10% have passed.

Math is not my forte, but it seems that death from this event is a drop in the bucket, something like 1.3%. Hmmm. Is my math correct?

What’s My Point?

Those who suffer the worst from this pandemic have been those with underlying conditions that make them susceptible to the harshest symptoms. If we can trust the data, most people who have died have been over 65 and have heart and lung conditions and/or diabetes. [Source]

As we’ve learned from this current situation,
are we better prepared for it to happen with some new virus?
Yes? No? Maybe? I dunno!

For the time being, having had C-19, accepted the vaccination and boosters, and continually keeping my wits about me, it would seem I have a form of “short-time immunity.”

Every day, and all the time, we must be aware of what’s happening around us to keep ourselves as safe as possible. We do this when driving, playing, swimming, or eating. Get my drift? We are always watchful against the dangers of daily living.

When I was young, there was little about living to worry about compared to what kids face daily. “Stranger danger” was not on my horizon of words to consider if someone was lurking! When we had a warning buzzer at school, we either marched orderly out of the building (fire drill) or hid under our desks to protect us from the “big one” that was sure to annihilate our nation!

Make It Spiritual For A Moment

If I’ve learned anything through this pandemic, I can sum it up as this: “Be aware!“

God told Cain about the situation between him and his brother, Abel.

If you do well, will you not be accepted?
And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door.
And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
(Genesis 4:7 NKJV)

The word used to describe the position of sin (lies) is one as a lion that crouches before they pounce. It’s always there! It desires you, but you should rule over it. Be aware!

Think about it.

How we respond to life is often the telling of the tale of how we survive. It’s true. We may be innocently caught up in a situation, but how you handle yourself during these times will tell a lot about your foundation of choices.

Could it be Cain had an underlying condition due to the fall from Grace that his parents suffered from? Sure. Our DNA comes from our parents. What is inherent within them molds us into the person we are today. We are each unique individuals, but we all have the same condition. Sin. What affects one does not necessarily affect the other, but we all deal with the underlying premise that all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God (Romans 3:23).

Fight off sin, and you have immunity. Every day, you must continue the fight. Our victories from yesterday must be won again today. What you may have been strong against then does not mean you are a “Samson” over today. The enemy has new variants—the same results in an age-old problem. Fight back!

I feel we live in a time when the fight has been challenging, and some are willing to give up and let the variants take over. If ever there was a time to remain strong, we face it today.

Just as the Spanish Flu of 1918-20 created a new world, C-19 will challenge us for this next century. That’s life. Pick up the pieces. Face the challenge. Do what needs to be done. Victory.