April 6, 2021

Last weekend was Easter. For me, it is a time of remembrance and reflection on the events of Holy Week and on the status of my personal faith. The overwhelming feeling I have this year is one of profound gratitude. I am thankful that my Lord submitted himself to torture and crucifixion to save me. He didn't have to, but he did. It is the ultimate act of love.

I am also thankful because I was able to receive a COVID-19 vaccine on April 3, 2021. I was given the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. I have been looking forward to the time when I would be eligible. While the protection it offers me is a comfort, I am even happier for those who will be protected from me. I take all the recommended precautions: wearing a mask when I have to be in public, trying to stay at home as much as I can and doing my part to social distance when I'm out, and washing my hands, but each encounter presents a risk. The thought of transmitting this virus to anyone, even accidentally, makes me feel horribly guilty.

As a Christian, it is my duty to take care of my fellow humans. I am treating others as I would have them treat me by complying with the expert guidance put out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There is no reason to fear these vaccines. I take my relationship with God seriously, and I am more than comfortable declaring there is nothing evil about these vaccines. There are no tracking devices in them; the government doesn't need vaccines to do that. They can get all the information they could ever want off your phones and social media. I'm not entirely sure where the conspiracy about 5G being in them came from, but it, too, is bogus. Nobody freaked out this badly when 3G and 4G were developed and implemented. 5G is simply the next upgrade for cell phone service. Nothing more. Also, you don't become magnetized. Your bodies, minds, and souls are safe, so please, take the vaccine as soon as you can get an appointment.

Think about it: our current president is a devout Catholic; his faith means the world to him. He took his vaccine doses publicly and on camera to demonstrate their safety. Would he have done that if he thought the vaccine was evil? For those who may scoff because they disagree with Catholicism or do not understand it, remember these vaccines began their lives under the Operation Warp Speed program endorsed by the last administration. Make no mistake that the scientists deserve all the credit for research and development, but some trust the last figurehead for whatever reason. Bear in mind, he also received the vaccine in January. His vanity and pride prevented him from showing you, but he did take it. Months later, he said that people should take the vaccine on one of his ritualistic call-ins to his favorite television channel. So, there really is no valid excuse for "moral" reasons.

I will be up front about my experience. I got the shot in my left arm, and I felt fine the rest of the day. There was a tiny prick from the needle going in; that part wasn't painful. Once the vaccine was being pushed in, there was a slight warmth borderline burning sensation behind where I felt the needle. It was more uncomfortable than outright painful. I was instructed to wait for 15 minutes to make sure I didn't have an allergic reaction. Nothing happened, and I was cleared to go. The injection site was tender. The next day, I was all right until the afternoon. My face began to feel warmer than it normally does. I never took my temperature, but I suspect I had a low-grade fever. I also experienced body aches mostly on my left side, which is the side I got the vaccine on. They felt like tiny pin pricks. I was able to manage the symptoms with ibuprofen. After a night's rest, I felt much better, but I noticed a bump with some redness around the injection site. The redness is in the form of a circle and is hot like a sunburn. My arm is still tender to the touch, otherwise, I feel fantastic three days later.

The minor discomfort I've felt is totally worth it to save other people and it is nothing to contracting COVID-19. I have first-hand knowledge of someone who contracted it in January. This person kept in contact with me via text message as the disease ran its course. Thank God, this person survived, but it sounded absolutely dreadful. I wouldn't wish what I heard on anybody. It is an honor and act of love to do your duty by masking up and getting vaccinated