Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Wash Feet, Wear Masks

I relate to the reluctant grumblers in the Bible ("You got the wrong guy, God!"), being kinda grumbly myself, so I love how FMB painted Peter looking all "this-is-wrong" about Jesus washing his feet--ha!* It's a favorite painting of mine.

"Jesus Washing Peter's Feet", Ford Madox Brown, (1852–6), at the Tate

Tomorrow is Maundy Thursday: the commemoration of the Last (Passover) Supper, when Jesus washed his friends' feet and gave his mandate, "Love one another as I have loved you."**

Am I always grumbling about my work? It's really only the top leadership that I'm unhappy with.
Work itself is a way and a place I get to actively practice "love one another"--with customers and coworkers--and I miss that. (And I doubt I'd really leave my job, despite the leadership, because mostly that's not who I'm dealing with.)

How can I practice that now, outside of work?

I just emailed Big Boss asking if he'd ask our coworkers to share contact info, so we can call each other. I don't like the phone, but in these circumstances, I'd use it.

And today I'm back to mask making. Yay! (I'd had to take a break because my elbow tendinitis flared up.)

Now that the CDC has said to wear masks, I'm seeing a lot more of them---maybe half the shoppers at the grocery store yesterday wore them. I'm relieved for the sake of all the workers the public breathes on.


It's what I'd thought all along---a cloth mask alone won't protect you from the virus, but if everyone wears one, we protect one another.

So much of the reaction to the pandemic is like a big test:
Can we get it that acting in one another's best interest is in our own best interest?


Here's a no-sew option: 

"My mask protects you. Your mask protects me."

And here's another no-sew option via Kirsten (thanks!)––made from a handkerchief and hair band:
https://blog.japanesecreations.com/no-sew-face-mask-with-handkerchief-and-hair-tie

*John 13:1-17 New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet

13 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

... so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”

8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”

Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. ..."


**John 13:34-35 King James Version (KJV)
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

2 comments:

  1. And this one is even easier. I would use t-shirt ties as now you can't find hair elastic.

    https://blog.japanesecreations.com/no-sew-face-mask-with-handkerchief-and-hair-tie

    I have worn this one and the problem with any of these masks is your breathe can moisten them and then they aren't of much use.

    Kirsten

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  2. KIRSTEN: Thanks, I'll add that to the o.p.
    Yeah--the moisture of our breath is a problem---still protects others from us spraying on them, but I read that if you wear a maks for long, you should change it---or line it with coffee filters so you can change those.

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