"LIFE OF 'ZOOM' IN TIME OF CoViD"

Would you agree that ZOOM (the company) was the biggest winner during this pandemic? Who among the people you know have not been on this application during our lockdown days and what seems to be a "no end social distancing" time of the year?

Are you hooked up on Zoom? Do you have a child or children doing distance learning over it? Are you working remotely and do most of your meeting over the computer? Who would have thought that our private lives will be invaded by this new app?

ZOOM for my son's distance learning. Zoom for my meetings. Zoom for attending continuing education online. Zoom for our Women's Bible Study. Zoom for connecting with friends. Our son's 10th birthday over Zoom. Exercise and Zumba with friends over Zoom. Zoom for kids' activities. Zoom for our Halloween Party. Worship services streaming live or over Zoom. Cooking or crafting class, even Masterclass are done online. What else can you not do over Zoom nowadays?

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DISCLAIMER: I am not in any way paid for by ZOOM to advertise their app. Just trying to write something to uplift, entertain and encourage YOU and myself a little bit during these uncertain times.

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There comes a point in my life at times where I just wanna be free from everyone and everything. Lock myself in a vault and just be by myself (this is the 25% introvert in me) and this pandemic didn't in anyway help me improve on that side but rather make it worse, these are the moments when I resort to writing, like this very blog you are reading and "My Sunday Thoughts" inspirational blog (on pen and paper draft, old fashioned kind of way).

Thankfully, ZOOM have made all these things possible so we can continue on with life. Whether it is through Zoom or any other platforms, it is a way of connecting and doing life as we know it during this pandemic. In the middle of this chaotic and isolating society we are dragged into, I saw a glimmer of light at the end of the very long and what seems like an unending tunnel.

“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” ― Dale Carnegie

Using Zoom, a little help from friends and a lot of re-connecting with old friends (at my previous job), we started a small project. Being part of a big community from my first real nurse's job in the Philippines, I have kept a close relationship and stayed connected together over Facebook (this helped a lot too during the lock down here and over there in the Philippines). As this pandemic has kept most of us busy as frontliners and healthcare workers, managing our fear of the unknown, or this unseen enemy; continue working in the middle of illness; and even loss of life, we thought of taking it on to Zoom to support each other.

We started a private "CoViD Conversations" over Zoom, with videos posted weekly in our Facebook group. We started in August and I thought, much like this blog, that it would only last for a couple of months the most, but here we are eight months on the CoViD and four months into our CoViD Conversations we are still going on..... Now that a second wave is sweeping Europe again, our cases here in the US are climbing up, the holiday celebrations are coming close meaning - (1) a threat to another lock down is not far from it; and (2) the uncertainties of the vaccine availability is still in limbow, and so we have decided to continue on with our "CoViD Conversations" as a means of encouragement for each other with our experiences with the pandemic. I am as overwhelmed as everybody else with everyone's support getting in on the conversations we all needed to do.

Life in the middle of this pandemic has certainly made us all adapt to whatever is available to us. For healthcare workers and frontliners like us, this reality is short of describing is as "challenging" and so we have to find ways and time to support each other and take ourselves out of that "hard situation" at work, relax a bit and try to be human outside of our profession again. To be a healthcare worker (especially nurses and doctors) is not an 8-hour job it is a 24/7 profession but at some point we just have to take a break and be just "us" - a human being, a son/daughter, a brother/sister, a dad/mom, a grandparent, an uncle/aunt or just a "gamer" or maybe a "vlogger/blogger" for some and still for some a "TikTok"-er I think we all deserve to have some fun or just enjoy the moment.

Zoom has definitely helped our community to support each other in a certain way. We used this platform to cater to our need and used it with limitation and control from our side and not from them. We used technology for a better cause, not for more screen addiction. And I am thankful we were able to use this kind of technology for a common good.

How is your life doing right now in the midst of CoViD-19 still looming around us? What are some ways you have been coping and connecting with families and friends? Now that CoViD-19 cases are on the rise again, how are you planning to cope better this second time around? Zoom might not be the answer to everything but it surely helped me to cope and thrive through all these. There are other ways I am sure! Facetime, google meets, messenger rooms, webex, Facebook portal, webinars, etc. If we want to really stay connected while distancing physically we can find ways. We can find better ways.

“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one.’” ― C.S. Lewis

At the end of the day we are all just humans clamoring for social interaction and if we are not confident with being a part of a social bubble yet, then we can continue our friendship through all other means just to reconnect. Let us make an effort, let's make a move, maybe our friend is just waiting for us to make the initial contact....Zoom or no zoom we can still cultivate great friendships by whatever means we have, we just need to be really intentional about it.

Go open your contacts, dial a number of a friend you have not talked to or heard from for some time. Make someone smile!

STAY SAFE AND BE BLESSED.

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#LifeInTImeofCoViD #CoViD19Pandemic #LifeofZoom

"LIFE LESSON IN TIME OF CoViD"

CoViD-19 seems to have decided to stay for the long haul. If there is anything this pandemic is teaching me it is taking time to unwind, rest and choose quality time over quantity of things accomplished.

Have you given it some thought lately, on what lessons in life this pandemic has been teaching you all along? What things have changed for the better in your personal life? Here are some I have personally developed and some I have seen from a lot of us...

PATIENCE.

Learning to wait and stay home for an indefinite period of time were not easy feat to accomplish, but most of us did. This pandemic surely tested a lot of our patience. I must say I am part of the essential workers so staying home for a long period of time was not an option as I still need to go to work to care for the sick and the needy. But my patience was tested as well by our elderly population. Being lonely and isolated themselves in their own room (in facilities) or in their own home, made them antsy and longing for human interaction, and so they become a bit more demanding than the usual. Spending more time with them can mean just merely listening to their tall tales from the past like stories of surviving the World War or the 'Great Depression' with all the adventures attached to it. It can also be conversing with them and trying to answer their unending questions about this CoViD-19. For others it is non-stop call bells or being more needy than usual, they just would not admit it but they just want someone to be there with them...and so the non-stop neediness for something! I can not blame them, after all it is a pretty lonely world with all this "shelter-in-place" (SIP).

Yes, our patience was tested in different ways but it can make us better if we managed to survive through the first round of SIP and get you ready for this next one. Take each day in one at a time, just try to survive day in and day out as we depend more on God's provision for "our daily bread" (Matthew 6:11). Let us also learn to process things as they have happened and are happening to us while putting the perspective of the gospel as we go through our everyday life.

As we approach another challenging closures, how are you preparing mentally for this? How can you show and display more patience in the midst of another possible SIP? The Scripture encourages us in many ways and Romans will not disappoint you...

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." - - ROMANS 12:12

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ATTENTIVENESS.

Now more than ever, we have spent a lot of time together as a family. Was that a positive thing for you? I hope it was. I know, it can be chaotic with more than two kids at home and a concoction of different personalities all in one room! Well, we are just three all in all in our house but there are days when tempers fly out of the window and everyone just retreat into their own corner and be quiet.

But this pandemic has taught me to be more aware of my surroundings and vulnerable to someone else's feeling. Spending quality time with people I love and cherish, even though it was forced time together in the start, was valuable to building our relationship. Checking on our elderly parents or reaching out to friends we have not spoken to for a long time even through a phone call, a message or a face time has been really helpful both for us and our families and friends alike. Time well spent with them could be the saving grace for others and the only company for many.

How sensitive have you been to getting in touch with your families and friends during CoViD-19? If you have not, there is still a chance, start today! Pick-up that phone and dial a friend's number you have not spoken to for a very long time.

"The LORD is mindful of us; He will bless us.

He will bless the house of Israel;

He will bless the house of Aaron;

He will bless those who fear the LORD—

small and great alike." - - Psalm 115:12-13

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CREATIVITY & RESOURCEFULNESS

Staying home surely has inspired a lot of creativity to a lot of people during this pandemic. My Facebook news feed is full of friends cooking and baking all sorts of things. Name it from "Ube Cheese Pandesal" (Purple yam & cheese bread rolls), spanish bread, baked sushi, Jap Chae, and even Dalgona Coffee (which was really strong! whew!). If not for the busy work and the messy renovation at our house, I would be digging into this baking and cooking too.

MASK MAKER

What was your creative outlet during the pandemic? What kept you busy? Others have found time to do the thing they have been wanting to do for so long, because of the time that were in their hands staying home. Crafts and DIY projects were in full speed, gardening became a thing while trying to be outdoors but not mingling with a lot of people and there are also those that have purposely enrolled in short courses to learn to do something totally new and out of their comfort zone. Master Class became a trending thing too... (I am yet still to find out what these Master Classes are). During this SIP our resourcefulness was put to test, trying to find projects for the kids and things we can do with what we have is an activity for the creative side of us. Another craft, another project, another remodel or another renovation....tell me about it, six weeks down the line and we still have not finished! Argh!

Still for some people and even companies, this CoViD-19 pushed them to think outside the box. Instead of closing their doors and stopping operation, they have found ways to continue operation but in a different tune. For example, breweries instead of making beers or whiskeys they are now making hand sanitizers which is more in demand than beers. Ford and other companies that make machines are putting together ventilators when the demand was very high and immediate, which means now that the next wave is here we are well stacked with the necessary equipment for caring for the very sick ones. Some makers of shoes or bags or other fashionable items are sponsoring and providing jobs for people staying home to make face cloth coverings/mask as the demand and awareness increases all across the country.

These are difficult times and nobody denies that, but as resilient as we are, we are not just trying to survive this, we are "acing" the challenges of the present reality. And this is what we are made of....being creative, innovative and resourceful in the midst of crisis.

HOSPITALITY.

In the midst of all uncertainties we are still able to extend a helping hand to someone in need either through prayer, financial help, emotional support, spiritual guidance, counselling, material things or just offering ourselves to help. The Bible leaves us with this "When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality." (Romans 12:13).

Opening our literal doors to others is not advisable at the moment due to the virus, but being hospitable is not just measured by this. When we share a meal with the homeless, when we give money or food to the local food bank, or when we make masks to give away to friends or out in the streets to the homeless...yes, very simple things but this is what attending to the needs of others is. Yes, this is hospitality.

Kindness and hospitality shown by a lot of food chains to our frontliners during CoViD-19

My 10-year old son's birthday this year was right smack in the middle of CoViD-19, but one thing he did that really touched my heart was to bombard me with requests to send money to our local Food Bank as his birthday gift. He did ask for something else but that was pretty amazing. Training children into the practice of hospitality is a must nowadays. This is our duty as the Lord has commanded us to "Love God above all. And the second one Love others as you love yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39)

"HOSPITALITY is generously leveraging your resources in loving service to others for the glory of GOD." - Ptr. Phil Ward, Senior Pastor GHCC

GODLINESS.

Another positive thing about the pandemic is that a lot of people seem to have more awareness of GOD or a Higher Being if they are not Christians. Believing and putting trust in GOD through all these chaos. I think it is inherent in us to come to GOD when everything fails, when it should really be the other way around it. We should come to God first really for "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." (Psalm 18:2). That is a promise for all of us.

Godliness does not only mean we are speaking more religiously or trying to be good. As a Christian, Godliness is living each day looking more like Jesus. Living by His Word, living with Jesus in my life as my Lord and Savior who died for my sins and rose again to fulfill His promise of a new life for us. Living the "already but not yet" and looking forward to His coming again! Living a godly life constantly in touch with Our Heavenly Father through direct prayers to Him.

This is also total dependence on a Lord God Almighty, the One who has control over everything, our One Sovereign God. I believe this is what this pandemic is really teaching us, to be fully aware of God and be totally dependent on Him literally and figuratively for "our daily bread" and whatever it is we need.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! - - Matthew 7:7-11

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CLEANLINESS.

Have you heard the saying: "Cleanliness is next to godliness." Apart from me literally putting it in such order, apparently with the nature of this virus, it is proving to be very true and real. CoViD-19 is teaching us to be mindful of our surroundings and other people too. The virus can be easily transmitted by mere touch or sneeze or cough. Protecting ourselves from getting others infected or catching the virus ourselves can be easily managed by being clean. Personal hygiene must be done consciously and regularly. Hand washingwith soap and warm water is the very basic tool we can use against any virus.

Keeping, not just our body but our homes, cars and everything we own, clean is now a thing. Cleaning and disinfecting are new trends to follow nowadays. And it is a really good trend to follow, if you are that sort of person. Nowadays we can never be too clean, compulsion to cleanliness is so much welcomed, no one is judging you for that.

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COMPASSION.

Compassion and understanding is what we really need at this present time and age. With so much on our plate (pandemic and politics) and so many issues plaguing our society (election and social injustice) all we see on TV, newspaper and even in our own community or probably inside our own home is so much conflict, discourse to the point of hatred.

Sometimes it feels like we can never have peace in this world the way things are going. Once I was sitting with an elderly listening to her tall tales of her youth, she made me realize how life was so simple then. She is very appreciative of what life she had lived but could not comprehend what life she is actually living in now. There are times she would utter the line from a Bible verse that says "Oh death, where is thy sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55) pleading to God for either her life in His hands or a little bit of relief from this life of suffering.

This is one thing I have learned, caring for our elderly during this time of CoViD-19....giving them a little bit more of my time just to listen to their stories, just to sit by them and be company for a few more seconds, just a genuine smile or a good laugh together or for others just a gentle touch or a squeeze of a warm hand into theirs is life more than enough for them to last the day through. Life's become harder for them too and sometimes all they want and ask for is a bit of comfort and a little time with family. So much for their request, they have taken a great toll from this pandemic too being the most at risk, so vulnerable, so isolated, so forgotten by some and yet all they ask from us is a little bit of compassion, just sincere sympathy. Let us share some quality time with them even with just a simple phone call and a quick "How are you doing?" can make a real difference to them.

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." - - Ephesians 4:32

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SIMPLICITY.

Has it ever occurred to you that money did not matter much with this pandemic? No matter how much money you saved up or invested in the stocks, it did not make things any easier for you. Yes, you could have bought things and stock up foods and supplies enough for the family but up to when? And when everything ran out, everyone was panic buying and supplies are dwindling down, what was your money and wealth for?

Living frugally seems like an old joke for most of us, but if you grew up in a third world country like me that is everyday life. Most people live pay check to pay check. A lot of people are homeless and dying of hunger. The great divide between the rich and poor is like heaven and earth. For ordinary people (or the average "Juan") in the Philippines, making a living enough to feed your family, send your kids to school and save up a little bit for emergencies is almost life at its fullest.

And yet, this pandemic has pushed us to live as simply as we can. We were pushed to shop food and necessities (like bathroom tissue) with limits; to socialize and work with boundaries by staying with your own small social bubble and to care about each other more as a family. These were some of the simplest ways of living and enjoying life and yet we let the adrenaline rush control our life always to the fullest, to the highest, to the best version of things ...almost pushing us over the cliff. I think that this pandemic is both a curse and blessing for us all, what do you think yourself?

"We urge you, brothers and sisters ... to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life." - - 1 Thessalonians 4:10-11

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SLOWING DOWN & REST.

The best thing that most of us realized and fully enjoyed, not because we chose to initially but because we were forced to have, is slowing down and taking time to rest. I am sure for those who are known to be hard worker, the start of the pandemic was a struggle. It was hard to just stay home and not go to work or simply a disruption of what your "usual normal" was, is the equivalent of "rush and hurry". Come to think of this situation of staying home and taking time off from work actually pushed you to realize that THIS IS actually the thing you needed to have and longed for the most...that is REST!

I wrote a blog on "My Sunday Thoughts" about a book I read on REST and SLOWING DOWN. It is a great book to pick on if you still have the time, it is written by John Mark Comer entitled "The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry". I have learned so much about slowing down and why our physical and spiritual body needed that. I for one is a hard worker, taking on too many projects and doing so many things trying to please everyone all at the same time. From there I learned about Silence, Solitude, Simplicity as spiritual disciplines to help me slow down and enjoy my Sabbath for what it is...time with the Lord! Oh, the book is just so good, grab one and learn from it.

"Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” - - Matthew 11:28-30

How about you, what "Life Lessons" did you learn and cultivate from this CoViD-19 we are still wrestling with? What are you doing now to make your time worth of staying home? Have you started a worthwhile hobby while 'sheltering-in-place'? Comment below and share your thoughts. It is even better if you will care to share this with others.

STAY SAFE AND BE BLESSED.

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#LifeInTImeofCoViD #LifeLessons #CoViD19Pandemic

"LIFE OF GUIDELINES & PHASES IN TIME OF CoViD"

GUIDELINES AND PHASES, these are just a couple of the words we have been hearing a lot these days. Why do we have to be dictated by guidelines? Why do we have to go in phases before we can move and go back to normal? I understand that these are hard questions and issues for a lot of us to decipher at the moment. Most of us are getting tired and sick of constantly changing guidelines and different decisions of each state into moving with the phases of re-opening. But really what are guidelines and phases in this time of CoViD?

During this time of a global pandemic, we still seem to be taking sides. We are still divided and unapologetically opposed with a lot of decisions and facts regarding CoViD. It is sad to say but polarization and politicizing is present even in the midst of this pandemic, which in my opinion, should NOT be.

Guidelines and Phases in Re-Opening our County

WHAT ARE GUIDELINES?

Guidelines are a set of principles, rules, or even a piece of advice according to Merriam Webster. There you go, RULES! I think a lot of us do not like the sound of that word RULES! Nobody wants to be under some kind of rules. But hey! rules are what actually rule our lives, our meager everyday life, believe it or not! Guidelines are set of principles for us to follow in order to reach a common goal and that goal is order and for this case...our HEALTH and SAFETY.

In the light of CoViD-19, guidelines are written and distributed to keep us safe and to lessen the chance of further infecting or going into a second wave of pandemic. Being a medical professional, I personally would not want to go back to that chaotic time wherein we were all "on our toes" and heightened state of "Red Alert" because of the increasing number of CoViD-19 cases in hospitals and facilities. We can actually make things better by adhering to these guidelines. Gov. Newsom mentioned in one of his PressCon on CoViD-19 response that our frustrations are understandable but we always have to remind ourselves that we are doing this for our loved ones and our family.

"Guidelines are put out to tell us "how" to do things, not "when" to do them. The timeline is given to the local authorities to decide." - Gov. Gavin Newsom, California

According to Gov. Newsom, "Guidelines are put out to tell us how to do things, not when." The 'when' are still put out to the local government to decide. For example, Guidelines on re-opening Hair Salons were thoroughly written, reviewed and approved before they were handed out to the County (from the State level) Health Officers and then down to the business owners (Hair Salon owners). Hair salon owners are given enough time to read, study and prepare to carry out these guidelines. Some of these would include things like (1) how to schedule clients as to timing, number of customers each day, etc; (2) what is required of each client coming in for appointments, i.e. mask, gloves, hand sanitizers, temperature check (3) they cannot accommodate more than one client inside the salon at a time, and many others. The County Health officials announce which phase the hair salons are included and the exact date when they can open. I hope the above example gave you an idea what a guideline is and a brief bird's eye view of the phasing.

WHAT ARE GUIDELINES FOR?

In this current season we are in, guidelines are out to help us, advice us and tell us "HOW' to do things in order to prevent the spread of the virus (further than it has already ripped us all) and keep ourselves healthy. Knowing is key. As our guidelines in California tells us, social distancing, use of facial covering and hand washing are the most essential principles.

This image I have here on the let is the simplest example of a guideline regarding meeting up together in groups. It tells or suggests ways you can take in order to be able to meet with your regular group of friends, how to do it safely and what considerations to take in order to enjoy the time together while at the same time being conscious of our health and safety.

Pages and pages of guidelines are written and formulated by our State officials in order to help us get back to as "what normal is" as we can be. They were not made overnight by an individual but rather a collaborative effort from the representatives of each business and the government officials. Let's give guidelines another colloquial term that maybe more understandable, how about considerations? These set of principles or advice can be summed up as considerations for us to take so that we can meet a common goal which is "to stop the spread of the virus!" Did it make more sense for you?

WHAT IS A PHASE?

So, I asked Merriam Webster again for a general definition of PHASE. Here we go, PHASE is a "distinct period or stage in a series of events or a process of change or development." Do I need do say more? That definition hits it right on target. If you look at the picture above titled "Contra Costa County's Road Ahead", it is our current phasing here in our county. Certain businesses and industries are given the "go ahead" signal to open on a particular date by the county's health official. With reference to what I just explained about guidelines earlier, phasing is more of the local health authorities jurisdiction. As the guidelines were placed by the state, the carrying out of such rules and principles are done by phases according to how the health officials assess their own locality. Working together to reach a common goal can be easier with the correct utilization of guidelines, resources and community effort.

Below is an example of how California planned the re-opening of the state in phases. And at the time of writing this piece we are slowly progressing with Phase 3, carefully opening up different industries and communities according to very strict guidelines ran by the local health officials.

HOW CAN I BE A PART OF THIS?

YOU, actually is the biggest chunk to make all this all a success. Our numbers are improving, even though there are reports of more people turning positive due to more testing. As long as the numbers of hospitalized individuals with CoViD-19 are not increasing then the State officials are not very concerned.

Again I repeat, each one of us has the biggest job to beat CoViD-19. If we all adhere to these guidelines laid before us, and follow the slow but well-thought phasing in re-opening our community, then we can all feel much safer.

I know it will be a challenging summer for us with all this face covering and social distancing guidelines that we need to follow. Why don't we look at things in a different way since we will have to live with the truth the this will be our "new normal" for a bit. Let's take the road of "we're all in this together" and just think more of others like our family, loved ones and dear friends to protect. The Contra Costa County Health Services came out with this ad that says "Wearing a face covering is an act of kindness" and indeed it is.

What are we called for during this time of guidelines and phasing in this time of CoViD? Really, it is our patience and sense of civil obedience. How far can we endure these rules and "new normal"? What more will they cut from our already altered reality? When will the government take the risk and just go back to how it was? Why do other states take the chance and seems to be doing well? These and so many other questions is killing our curious everyday

Everything at the moment, in light of CoViD-19, is a balancing act. We have to be law-abiding citizens first, before we can be good business owners, employers, students, teachers, golfers, athletes, politicians, and even philanthropists. Even us, professed Christians or Jesus followers (as I love to call them), we need to be able to model Jesus who respects the law of the land and loving our neighbors (who is practically everyone else except yourself) as ourselves.

Let us keep doing what we can, offering our help when we can and sharing what we have, always trying "to outdo one another in doing honor" (Romans 12:10) rather than outdoing others with what we have, what we own, what we wear, what we do for work or what we drive. Here is a great example of unity shown by a short reminder by all the living California governors helping us remember some important guidelines to live by this time of CoViD.

We must act with love; we need to endure our struggles with patience and work all this together. Unity, patience, endurance and love for others. And today I leave you with this Bible verse...

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#MySUndayThoughts #LifeintimeofCoViD #GuidelinesandPhases #John16v33 #TakeHeart #outdooneanotherinhonor #ContraCostaHealth