What has happened to faith? That’s the question I found myself pondering most recently, as I continued to listen to much of the world.

Perhaps I should back up a minute and work my way up to this confusion I seem to be living in.

The conversation of faith versus fear in regards to this recent pandemic began between myself and a loved one back in late February. At the time, we were learning via the news of a virus which was running rampant in other countries and eventually affected a large number of people on a few cruise ships.

During said conversation I shared my deep-seated faith and a refusal to live in fear. Five months later, I still stand behind those words.

Little did I know at the time that less than two months later, as the fear would continue to take over the world, I would be diagnosed with Stage Three breast cancer. True to my feeling on COVID, I approached my cancer plan and treatment the same way, faith over fear.

In truth a piece of me is grateful for my diagnosis, as it left me with little time to sit around and speculate a “what if” life, or get caught up on the number of confirmed cases of COVID, etc.

Not to be misunderstood, I’m not making light of the current pandemic and the number of lives affected. Yes, I do know someone who had COVID. Fortunately he was tested early and after 14 days of quarantine returned to work and life as he knows it.

If being completely honest, I have to say I feel as if we are living in a really bad B rated movie. Gone seems to be the notion of common sense, replaced by the keyboard warriors and preachers reciting facts which are often fake news. Everyone is suddenly an expert and venom seems to run rampant. Condemnation and criticism of our neighbors now seem to run the gamut. History is suddenly being destroyed because it hurts people’s feelings.

Make no mistake, that last sentence is not over simplifying. Statues and monuments have been standing for decades, never before times such as these were there a group of people who felt destruction of history was the answer.

Oh how wrong this would be. Acknowledgement of history does not equal condoning what has happened. Have we become so naïve and desensitized that this is now the belief?

Personally, I’m going to share something which may make a few unhappy. Welcome to the result of everybody gets a trophy. “I don’t like what this statue represents in history so I’ll tear it down.”

Exactly when did vandalism and destruction of public property become okay with so many people, not to mention; it’s against the law. And hey, don’t get me started on the large gatherings which are not social distanced, not all wearing a mask, and over 10 people – but we’ll look the other way on that too, right?

I’m truly just so confused by so many things it’s hard to succinctly place it into one column space.

So perhaps it’s best to simply bring this back to where it all started, I’m sticking with faith. Oh yes, here she is a journalist, writing openly about the taboo topic of this day and age: God.

I’m so grateful that I have a belief in something greater than man. Through this belief I have peace within all of this. In time it will correct itself. Does my heart hurt for many? Absolutely, but faith is bigger than fear, this I know for sure.

Like many, there have been many dark moments in my life. Times when I have wondered, am I strong enough for this chapter, but once the pity party subsides I lean on faith.

So what’s the point in all this really? Man I wish I knew. Perhaps for today, it’s to reassure a few readers through a source of media that you are not alone. We are living in a time which simply does not make sense. The world has simply run amuck and make no mistake these are words being typed by a “City” girl relocated to the Valley. I’ve lived a lot of life and seen my fair share of injustice, but this – well, this is all plain mad.

From my limited view our worries should be bigger than this pandemic. Thank goodness for faith, God help us all.

Teresa Hammond is a staff reporter for The Oakdale Leader, The Riverbank News and The Escalon Times. She may be reached at thammond@oakdaleleader.com or by calling 847-3021.