The United States has a long history of values that emphasize independence and self-reliance. Traditionally, we’ve prided ourselves on personal ingenuity and self-sufficiency. We forge our own path and write our own story. We begin with little or nothing, overcome adversity, beat all odds, and achieve the American Dream. These values have served our citizens and country well. These values have supported empires, art, and innovations.

But today, it is clear that our original values have swung too far towards “every man and woman for themself.” As we cling to our belief in independence and self-reliance, we have forgotten our people, our connection, and our oneness. We have lost basic human values because we are too afraid to admit that we might no longer be the land of equal opportunity. We grip so tightly to our pride and independence that we are hesitant to offer an open hand to a stranger.

The Coronavirus pandemic brings to light many broken and deficient systems within our social structures, which is an opportunity to reassess our culture and beliefs as Americans. What is this country about? How is one of our values equality when we have starving children on our own soil? How is one of our values opportunity when households have so much debt one cannot work long enough or hard enough to pay off the balance in their lifetime? What is happening to family structures when there is no one home to raise children? 

American egocentrism has reared its head during the Coronavirus outbreak, not only in the ways we underestimated the impact to the United States because the virus was happening “over there” and not here, but also when we continue to justify our beliefs in favor of the individual rather than the collective. Just because we are ok, healthy, resourceful, and able, does not give us the right to abandon our people who are less fortunate. Worse, our privilege and our success do not entitle us to close our hearts, look the other way, and pretend the poor and the sick do not exist. We do not get to say, I only need to worry about myself and my immediate family. Not now, with the virus, and not ever.

Knowing we are all in this together is not necessarily warm and fuzzy. Sometimes we feel better and more in control when we only have ourselves to worry about. An awareness that we are all worthy, and all connected can be scary because it conflicts with our core belief that all we need is ourself, or that people are to blame for their circumstance. Who are we as a nation and a culture if we let go of our old beliefs of the American Dream and the land of opportunity? Who are we if we have to rethink important values like access, equality, truth, and justice for all? Do we embody these values today, and if not, how can we change so we do?

This pandemic should shake us out of our egocentrism and privilege. This pandemic exposes all the vulnerabilities that come from remaining separate. Even though it is uncomfortable, and probably painful, allow this crisis to open your heart and expand your compassion. Since you have been fearful this week of not having access to basic necessities or food, maybe you can relate a little more to families who live this way every single day. Maybe you are able to feel for the mothers trying to get their babies over the border for safety and shelter. Maybe you understand a glimpse of what it might be like to not have access to healthcare. Maybe you know a little what it’s like to fear for your own health or the well-being of your children. 

We have lost our empathy, our compassion, and our understanding of what it means to exist. To exist is not to succeed independent of others or despite all circumstance. To exist is to co-exist, and to act our part in support of the greatest good for all.

When we support the greatest good, we ALL benefit.

As you bravely keep your heart open, notice the empathy you feel for children who are citizens of this land, yet still do not have safe home environments or basic nutrition.  

Notice the heaviness there, in your chest and in your heart, when you think of them. 

Notice the nudge of unsettledness that something is not right to have such poverty in a nation of such wealth and resource. 

Notice the squeezing tightness in your throat when you know that our country is broken, and that we are not who we claim to be.

Yes, it hurts, but awareness is the first step to healing. We can heal this country. We can heal ourselves. We can expand our view to include all our people. We can wrap each other in divine love and light, and we can walk one another through this crisis. And we will.

During this tender time of necessary physical isolation, we can come together in soul and in spirit. This may be the silver lining to this devastating outbreak. It’s possible we are on the cusp of a great awakening, and a shift in our hearts and our values of what it means to be American.

We can and we will get through this because it is what we do. We fall and we rise. We screw up and we come back. We will walk bravely into this fire, with our faith in the many versions of God that make up this country. We will feel the pain of betraying our own people and allow it to humble us enough to change. We will help one another through this in order to prove our collective strength and resilience. We will be who we claim to be, with open hearts and minds. We are the United States of America, united in all of our experiences, circumstances, and beliefs. We are the homeless person, the billionaire, and everyone in between. This is a calling. The Coronavirus is a perfect, eye-opening lens into who we are. Who have we been, and who do we want to be?