Heeding the Holy Days

Tomorrow will mark 'Good' Friday which traditionally marks the day of my Savior's crucifixion.  Because of the fast called by President Nelson I fasted today until about 1:30 PM on water and have continued a true fast since then.  I fast for those who are sick and dying, for those who have been afflicted with financial problems because of the shutdown, for those who are caring for the sick and for all of us as they distribute food and do other tasks as nurses, as doctors, as clerks, as truck drivers.  I fast for the restoration of health to our economy and the opening of churches and temples.  I fast that those who have led heedless lives devoted to folly and pleasure will turn their hearts to God. 
I abstained from social media including news broadcasts today.  I have spent time talking to friends and family.  I dropped by Lucinda's house to get rice and exchange 'air hugs' with my family.  I met online with Eliza and some of her children for art lessons.  I called Marge Lewis.  It has been a relief to remove myself from the loop of political intrigue, although I did talk to Richard about it. 
We are ripe for destruction, but we have been for a while.  The time of the harvest is near, but it will come in the due time of the Lord. 

Eggs

I purchased 100 lbs. of chicken feed a couple of weeks ago, one of my last purchases after I mostly became quarantined.  Now April and warmer weather has arrived and my chickens seem to have hit their stride, producing several eggs a day.  I believe one of them just joined the other two as a layer if the much paler color of one of the eggs I just gathered is an indication.  Having a couple of fresh eggs daily is a nice backup to our food supplies.  Of the six items I pre-ordered to be picked up at Smith's on Monday, three were not available.  Although I have plenty of supplies on hand because I purchased a lot of food that was vacuum packed several years ago and already had other staples, knowing that there is something fresh available is good.
I had a fairly knarly night last night, dreaming of schemes about the plague that intersected with pains in my back that might have been my kidneys but could have been gas. 
Today I worked on another page of my online art lessons, made some cheese waffles, took care of my chickens and did a lot of somewhat obsessive internet browsing.  I'm doing fine with being quarantined.  My home is pleasant and has a lot of opportunities to be creative, but I am still a little worried about my lack of appetite.  Tomorrow starts the Good Friday fast.  I believe it will be best to do a water fast throughout the day and begin a dry fast in the evening until Friday evening.  Although there is a call to fast on Friday, I haven't noticed any particular notice of the time to start and end.

Banking, Creating Online Content and Visiting Hannah and Rudy

I was able to eat a serving of liver today as well as some bean thread noodles with egg.  I also received my support check in the mail and took it out to be deposited.  I posted two new episodes of my on-line art course to the web in addition to adding content to the color section.  In the afternoon I visited Rudy and Hannah via Zoom.  I am currently waiting for my laundry to dry.  I am very grateful that I was prompted to try Magnesium glycinate the other night when I began to fear that I might have a bowel obstruction and worried in my half awake state that I would have to die a very painful death fairly soon.  I'm grateful to Father in Heaven and his Son Jesus Christ and to the Holy Ghost for all I have been given.

A Day of Miracles

Today General Conference was very different in some ways and in other ways very similar.  Instead of the Tabernacle Choir and other choirs acting backup to the General Authorities and other speakers on the stand, a recording of various performances of hymns was played from the impressive library of songs recorded through the years.  The speakers practiced 'social distancing' as they sat at least 6 feet from one another on the area near the podium.  But the inspiration and instruction were generally the same degree and quality.  The Hallelujah Shout was surely voiced from far more throats as people in quarantine or isolation all around the world joined in.  A new Proclamation was added to the small number that has been issued, and it was fitting.  The variety of people who are now general authorities was somewhat increased, and as a final touch, in addition to a new logo, feature the Christus, President Nelson announced 8 new temples near the very end of the last meeting.  They will be in many places, but the greatest surprises were DuBai and Shanghai.

Surprise Reaction to Post

Over time I have made a number of relatively popular posts on Facebook but nothing like a relatively mild comment today.  I said I felt my change of way of life and way of eating had probably given me a margin in the current pandemic because most, if not all of those who die have been overweight or had high blood sugar.  It resulted in a lot of comments and quite a few likes.  There are a lot of varying opinions on the subject, although most feel that working for better health is beneficial.  I think what happened is that I tapped into the common 'zeitgeist' and many people felt the need to express their feelings. 
I finished the watercolor instruction page for my online art course and got it posted.  I made a call to Eliza and reviewed the drawings the children made.  I made a point that they would make little progress if they didn't practice.  I'm looking forward to Conference tomorrow.  I don't feel there will be a major announcement.  We are at the will of our Father in Heaven and he has run out this current time far longer than I would have anticipated. 

Summing up the day

I didn't let the chickens out today because it was cold and snowy.  I found a fairly high resolution photo of the painting of my dad and posted it on Facebook in response to an inquiry from my niece.  It was widely appreciated.  I woke up and did my daily routine early so I could do a zoom meeting with Eliza and her children.  As it turned out, she was just getting the children into doing the sketch associated with my lesson.  I arranged to talk to her again tomorrow after they had done some sketches we could mutually critique. 

Disappearing Posts

One thing I particularly dislike about this platform is the way I will often write a paragraph or more, only to have it disappear.  I wrote a post last night and before I could hit the 'publish' button the program shut down and I lost what I had written. 
It has been an interesting time for me.  Although I am under self-imposed isolation, I have Richard here to share it with me which is a great blessing.  Not only are we able to share the sacrament because he has the priesthood, but he is an interesting and intelligent conversationalist although he does tend to go off on a rant now and then, or to put it more mildly, he gives a lecture on a side topic when I am interested in conveying something tangentially related.  Neither of us is dependent on the other for food or other needs. 
I have more than enough projects to fill my time.  I still need to complete the stained glass project of the burial of Job Welling, I am still somewhat short of completing my chicken coop and although I woke this morning to snow, April has brought burgeoning growth to the yard.  Adam and Ralph will have plenty to do.  The girls have chosen to avoid coming to do housework.  My alarm is now set to 8 AM instead of six.  With seminary and the temples closed I see no particular reason to get up early.  I have done my morning and evening routine daily and my house is generally in order.  I have several different projects to motivate me enough to keep me from spending the day on movies or novels, although I do spend too much time examining the political situation.
The current conflict in ideas seems to be the difference of opinion on whether or not the virtual shutdown to the economy is in order.  Some have argued that is would have been better to require those particularly at risk, people in my general demographic, to stay isolated for their own protection and let those less at risk to carry on as normal.  However, although the worst effects of the virus tend to affect the elderly, many younger people have died and even where restrictions have been put in place for the population in general, there is sickness and death enough to strain the system. re
I take comfort in the guidance of the Prophet and other leaders of the Church.  They made the decision to take radical action in shutting down public meetings and had long since created programs and altered practices to make the transition to home based church quite easy.  For the immediate future I am relatively well off.  I have food supplies, cleaning supplies etc.  I had worried that my weight was dropping too low, but when I weighed this morning it was stable.