Nine People/Groups to Thank in the Crisis

We still have a long way to go to get through the Pandemic. The Province of BC has done well to evade a spike in cases. There are, however, a few places in Canada, several cities in the United States and many areas around the world that are still teetering between flattening and spiking. Keep praying.

After the health crisis is over, we will begin the long road toward economic recovery. In the meantime, we have some people to honour for their leadership and example.

#1 Medical Staff: Medical personnel working directly with C-19 patients deserve our utmost respect and appreciation. I can’t imagine the level of stress and anxiety they feel every day. Also, many are living separated from their families adding to an already difficult season of adversity. Thank you for laying down your life in the service of others.

#2 Catholic Pastors: I want to honour Pastors and Priests who have worked hard to learn new skills like Livestreaming, preaching to empty pews and connecting through social media. I want to thank you for your commitment to hearing confessions so that souls can be reconciled to God. I honour priests who are providing spiritual care for COVID patients, putting themselves in harms way. I’ve spoken to some priests after their internet crashed or something else went wrong during Mass or another digital event. Don’t worry about it! We love you! We thank you! Your creativity and perseverance to embrace what is hard and difficult is animated by love for Christ and zeal for souls. Thank you!!

#3 Pope Francis: I want to honour the Holy Father for his prayerful support of those suffering most during this most difficult time. He has been a continual example of prayer and a strong prophetic voice calling the world to boldly approach the Divine Physician for healing, comfort and an end to the virus. The evening of prayer on March 27th was particularly inspiring and moving. You can find his full prayerful address here.

#4 Dr Bonnie Henry: I praised BC’s top doctor in last week’s blog post. So just a quick word of thanks for her incredible ability in blending professional competence and human heart. One of the best examples I have seen in many years. You can watch one of her early press conferences here.

#5 Archdiocese of Vancouver: I couldn’t be more proud to serve alongside the leaders and lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Vancouver. The Gospel in being proclaimed; Pastors are learning new skills and connecting with their people; parishes are reaching out to their senior members with loving support; lay people are innovating their programs because they care for the people they serve; Masses have gone Livestream; prayer groups are meeting on Zoom with young adults leading the way; confessions are being heard in parking lots; some churches became tabernacles for drive up adoration; our brothers and sisters in need are being cared for at the Door is Open and Men’s Hostel; our hospitals and care centres are heroically serving people with acute needs, including COVID patients; our schools have taken learning online; our philanthropists and friends are stepping into the gap with financial support. We are only limited by our own creativity. Jesus IS risen! We cling to what is permanent to lead in the chaos of the present moment. Check out: #churchneverstops

#6 Dr Viskontas (Knee Surgeon): On a lesser scale, our family is grateful for a knee surgeon, Dr. Viskontas, for his forethought and decisive direction. Our son, Francis, had torn his meniscus at a soccer game in the middle of February. Our specialist quickly ordered an MRI to confirm his diagnosis. The MRI was Monday March 9th, results came back Tuesday March 10th and by Thursday March 12th Francis was in surgery. When the surgeon came in to the waiting room on the morning of the surgery, he apologized for moving so quickly and then hinted, “If the coronavirus gets worse, they will start canceling elective surgeries.” So glad he recognized the signs of the time and led us through so well. Francis is on the road to recovery and we are so grateful.

#7 Brian Dodd: These are two strong voices in the leadership development space. Brian is a prolific writer. He also curates a ton of great content. His Saturday Morning Top Tens have become a staple in my professional development rhthyms. I sit down each Saturday morning for a second cup of coffee, a journal and his top ten list. Absolute gold – get it here.

#8 Carey Nieuwhof: Carey is, first and foremost, a Canadian! He also happens to have one of the most listened to leadership Podcasts in the world. He does a ton of writing through his blog and is a bestselling author. He has become the go-to source for leadership wisdom during a crisis for thousands of leaders around the world. He has a course out right now to help leaders lead during crisis. You can get it here.

#9 Italian Mayors: I want to honour the mayors who took matters into their own hands by going on YouTube and walking the city streets to ensure the Italian people were abiding by the lockdown restrictions. You can find a sample video here (language warning). I’m not 100% certain all the individuals featured in this video are actual mayors or Italian for that matter but you get the gist. No doubt there is some entertainment value in their animated speeches, but once you move beyond that, you see their true heart for the common good.