Rambling today about COVID and public health:
- No one made mistakes in caring about a pandemic illness and its possible effects on average citizens.
- I’m not rambling thinking all the effort represents some big waste.
- I’m not rambling to diminish the suffering that occurred.
- In general, as a society and a medical community we learned much about COVID-19 as time wore on. Still, we don’t know everything.
- My rambling today asks a question about public health.
- Do we care about public health?
- I think we genuinely cared about the pandemic.
- I am not so sure about public health.
- Where did the pandemic attack? Yes one can point out exceptions, but over and over we heard it attacked the obese.
- Yet two years later, do we hear very much about obesity?
- We can catch the occasional spot on the news about eating right or exercising, sure.
- But what about overweight adults? And children?
- What about mental health? Almost everyone in education at this point waves red flags about the mental health of our young people.
- I won’t wade into the territory of the pandemic’s effect on mental health of kids nor try to assign responsibility.
- None of that will change the result – a mental health crisis.
- Oh – also – what about addiction?
- Have you heard that overdose rates remain high, as they have throughout the pandemic?
- Public health. I’d say start by admitting we lack consistency.
- Or, maybe we’re hypocritical in the way we over-focus on imminent or fear-inducing threats?
- Let’s care about all of public health. Believers, let’s make ourselves aware of ways we can help in crisis and encourage overall healthier lifestyles.
- We get one body. If you trust in Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells there.
- Disciplined, balanced lives glorify God. Let’s encourage each other to that end!