Monday Ministerial Musings
By Rev. Mark William Ennis
Blog Number 16
April 20, 2020
Heroes in Hard Times
Part Three
We are inundated with bad and scary news. During this month I will be doing blogs that celebrate heroes in our congregation. I hope that you gain some inspiration from these and receive a respite from the bad news that the media continues to feed us.
Our Mom’s told us not to do dangerous things. They tried to keep us “safe.” How many of us were punished as young people for “putting ourselves in danger.” Using the excuse that “Johnny did it,” usually got us the response, “if your friend jumped off a bridge would you jump also?”
Fortunately for all of us, some people ignore this advice and with their friends jump into danger. After doing so, they run back and do it again. I’m speaking of members of the police department, the fire department, hospital workers and our ambulance services. They ignore Mom’s advice and run into danger whenever there is a need.
Today, specifically, I highlight Tara and Jose Fox-Rivera. These two are part of our congregation and work in the very epicenter of the Covid-19 plague, Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, NJ. Since the first days of the Corona outbreak, Teaneck has had the dubious distinction of having the most virus outbreaks in our county. Holy Name Hospital has been inundated by cases, and for weeks, has been operating at capacity treating patients of these diseases. Tara and Jose have been very involved in the care of these patients.
I haven’t yet told you the best part. Each in turn, these two became ill because of Covid-19. First he contracted it and recovered and afterward, she became ill but also recovered. Now the two are back at work caring for Holy Name Hospital patients, most of whom are Corona patients. These two are doing more good things for the ill than most of us can only dream of. They are putting themselves at risk to give patients the loving, professional care that the sick deserve.
It is gives me pride to say that these two heroes are part of our congregation.
May we all imitate this behavior.
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To read more of Pastor Mark’s writings, please order a copy of his book:https://deepriverbooks.com/books/the-circle-of-seven/
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