Common Sense

Godspeed

We are living in unprecedented times. Our societies around the world are dealing with an enemy like none have seen before. Here in our own country, multitudes of people are unemployed or furloughed. Those who have escaped this dreaded virus and still have employment are either working increasingly long hours or are just barely getting by on the small amount of work their employer can offer to them. Much of our workforce has given up and sheltered in place at home, just watching the news and eagerly anticipating the end of this pandemic with hopes of returning to their normal life as it was before this crisis.

My husband John is blessed to still have his job. He works at a local distribution center as a forklift driver, loading and unloading trucks all day. I, being a school teacher, am currently spending all my days at home tending to our two boys. I am very thankful that John still has a job to go to each day. My heart goes out to all the truck drivers out there.

I am writing to perhaps provide a little encouragement and to express my thanks for all the truck drivers out there. If it were not for them, my husband would have no job to go to and we would both be unemployed throughout this pandemic.

As Thomas Paine wrote, also during some very trying times in our country, “These are the times that try men’s souls” and “The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph”. I have thought of these two statements often during this recent crisis. 

These times may try our souls, but we will overcome this obstacle. While this conflict is a very difficult one for a lot of Americans right now, when we triumph over this virus, we will experience all the glory from conquering COVID-19..

To all the men and women out there helping to keep our economy going during this difficult time, even at great personal risk, thank you and God bless.

Ruth Potter