With the world more or less at a standstill, how do we cope with our needs as human beings? So much has changed in our world in such a short amount of time. For most of us, our rather predictable and standard routines have come to a complete standstill. It’s as if someone hit the pause button on the movie called life. Learning the new normal in these unusual times has been challenging for many. Whether those in the health care system challenged to the max with a high volume of critically ill patients and navigating in uncharted territories of lack of cure or prevention, or those of us keeping things sane on the homefront. Whether it’s the teachers adapting to virtual classrooms or children adjusting to new operations or expectations. Nothing seems normal about our reality these days. For most people, although times are challenging, there is still a privilege of having the freedom of being out of the line of fire. For those of us in essential work such as health care workers, paramedics, food suppliers, sanitation workers, and others, we are serving the rest of mankind in different ways so that human beings can sustain themselves during these difficult times. Another essential part of daily living for many people is faith. No matter what faith you belong to, people practice their faith in different ways. Most people have faith intertwined with their daily routine in some form or another. Whether a person prays at that start of their day in solitude or in congregation, faith is a fundamental part of life for many people. As we enter the holiest weeks for many people of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faith, there are so many challenges with how to observe their faiths and traditions in these unusual times. Most religious organizations have not been congregating in parts of the country with a large burden of COVID cases. Some faiths have shifted to virtual congregations. People are accustomed to praying and feasting with their loved ones. Although the human connection is being displaced in these times, and a shift is being placed on a virtual connection with the aid of technology, the gain that is resulted from the sacrifice is tremendous. With every social distancing encounter and sheltering in place, action comes the reward of a life saved. As stated in the Quran and other scriptures, to save one life is to save all of humanity. So to all my fellow human beings, I wish you health, happiness, and spirituality during the upcoming holidays, and thank you for coming together to save countless lives from a physician on the frontlines. Uzma Syed is an infectious disease physician. Source
