It’s a fragile web we live on. And now it’s been jostled.

In a span of 48 hours this week, my entire month of work unraveled. A college eliminated an engagement as they suspended classes. A conference and rally in DC was cancelled because the participants have compromised immune systems and couldn’t risk exposure.

The same thing has happened to my son, who is a concert lighting designer. And my friend who is a musician. And my agent who books events at colleges and universities. When you make your living by gathering the public, things change dramatically when the public stops gathering.

The ripples of COVID-19 spread quickly. We run through life imagining we are in full control of our destinies and in a moment it all changes.

We’ll be fine. If days turn into weeks and weeks into months, we will have some difficult decisions to make. For the moment, it’s simply inconvenient. But this all has me thinking of how much we depend on one another.

Mother Teresa said, “If we have no peace it is because we have forgotten that we belong to one another.”

We count on our leaders to lead. We depend on our health care providers to have the time and the resources to care for us. We rely on our neighbors and coworkers to make wise choices and stay home when they exhibit symptoms. Cover their mouths when they cough. Wash their hands often.

Indeed, the ways we are connected are countless and span vast distances. Within a few weeks, COVID-19 has circled the globe and it’s as clear as ever that the actions of a few people anywhere impact the lives of all people everywhere.

May we remember that lesson in the days and weeks ahead.

You’ve likely heard the advice, but it bears repeating. I know, because I continually catch myself…somehow…touching my face. Make it a mantra. Wash your hands. Cover your cough. Don’t touch your face. Stay home if you have symptoms. Get good information.

Here’s a link to the Center for Disease Control and their latest advice.

Take care of yourself. Take care of one another. We need each other.