The division born out of the coronavirus pandemic started just a couple of months after the start of the nation's first stay at home order that California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on March 19th of last year.
And for the first couple of months, most every business and most everyone complied with the shutdown the lockdown orders. But weariness emerged quickly and by May, the protests had begun.
And now after all these many months that have led to more than 36,000 deaths in California and more than 400,000 deaths nationwide, the protest and division over how to fight the COVID pandemic have not gone away but have only grown.
The latest protest in El Cajon this weekend where hundreds of mask-less people took part in a “Let us worship” protest of sorts, led by an evangelical Christian musician, not given a permit by the city but blessed by the city’s mayor.
The public health restrictions have prohibited indoor worship and have led to debates and even some divisions among church members over whether to follow or not to follow orders from the state.
And the words of Jesus in the Bible about rendering unto Caesar what is his and to God what is His are being used by both sides of the debate.
The pandemic has stirred us in many ways and has separated us from each other physically and at times philosophically. But maybe it will also end up bringing us more together when we can declare victory over it.
(Photo Getty Images)