Bob Dylan's song: Come gather 'round people Wherever you roam And admit that the waters Around you have grown And accept it that soon You'll be drenched to the bone. If your time to you Is worth savln' Then you better start Swimmin' Or you'll sink like a stone For the times they are a-changin'.

Good morning and welcome. It is Thursday, March 26, 2020. I know that to be the case because I checked. This has become necessary as our days run together and we find ourselves more and more asking each other what day it is. We are aware that people are dying as a result of this virus outbreak. They are also dying for many other reasons as well. Because of all the containment protocols in place most families have opted for private burials and delayed scheduling of memorial services. Some are doing a service and streaming it online for family and friends. Funeral homes are scrambling to come up with ways to provide during these unique circumstances. I saw the report where Tillman Fertitta's vast empire of hotels, restaurants, and casinos have furloughed 40,000 of their employees. This reminds us we do live in a service economy. As corporations strip out costs and go into survival mode, the cancellations of projects and purchases produce a cascading array of negative impacts. What makes this situation different has to do with the range and reach since the global economy has essentially been parked and may stay that way for several months. We are now seeing the arguing and fingerpointing involving the tension between protecting people and keeping at least the pilot light on for the economy. Like I say, there is a uniqueness to the unique situation we find ourselves in. I know I sound like a broken record but I don't see any way through this without God's intervention and help. You may think you have a better answer. I don't.

Noah's flood stands alone in its impact on the globe. Given that, I looked up the most significant natural disasters in recorded history. The number one was the 1931 floods in China which killed 4,000,000 people. Others on the list were connected to volcano eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, blizzards, and one I remember from 2003, a heatwave in Europe that took the lives of 70,000. When you look at the 10 worst pandemics in history, this coronavirus is fairly tame by comparison. Here's the factoid on the worst: ~ Death Toll: 75 – 200 million. The Black Death. Cause: Bubonic Plague. From 1346 to 1353 an outbreak of the Plague ravaged Europe, Africa, and Asia, with an estimated death toll between 75 and 200 million people. Thought to have originated in Asia, the Plague most likely jumped continents via the fleas living on the rats that so frequently lived aboard merchant ships. Ports being major urban centers at the time, were the perfect breeding ground for the rats and fleas, and thus the insidious bacterium flourished, devastating three continents in its wake. ~ The world population at the time of this plague was estimated to be just under 500 million. The most lasting impact from today's pandemic may well have to do with the hardships that come as a result of the collapse of the worldwide integrated economy. I did not look at the deaths associated with wars that produce mind-boggling numbers as well. Sharing this information is nothing more than my feeble attempt to add some perspective. Nothing more than that.

Me showing mom how to do stuff on her computer.

I will tell you how impressed I am with how good some of the really older folks have become in using social media. They are keeping up with and distributing news from all over. They are sharing Bible verses, videos, cartoons, and other memes as well. I'm talking 80's and some even into their early 90's. I know I am officially designated as older given my threescore, ten, plus three years and counting, but, many of these folks have me beat by many years. I think it is great they are keeping themselves active and plugged in. Yes. I am aware they are pretty much the exception. It reminds me of how my mom up into her early 90's was always and forever my biggest fan and supporter of my daily blogs. Who would have ever thought she could have even learned how to open them up on the computer? But she did. She would often comment on them when I talked to her on the phone. I do not necessarily consider myself to be computer literate in the literal meaning of the term, however, I am thankful to be able to do what I am able to do using technology as a part of my everyday life. I'm not sure all old people should be taught how to copy and paste given the amount of stuff they send out, but, all in all, they do make us all proud. Amen. ....More later.