Yesterday evening I played at the first in-person service since March 2020. At this particular church the congregation have a strong faith in healing; firmly believing that God’s love heals. I am hired to provide piano and organ music on Wednesday evenings. For the first year of the pandemic the music for their Zoom services was obtained online, but for the past several months I have been providing it from my home, on Zoom.
There were technical issues last night with hybrid service — in person people could not hear those who were speaking on Zoom, and Zoom people could not hear most speakers in the church. Everything is run by volunteers so there are bound to be difficulties at first.
When I got home I had a phone conversation with a rather impatient person who was hosting the Zoom part of the hybrid service. He asked my why I would need to wear a mask, and told me that if I insisted on wearing a mask to not bother singing because no one can hear people singing with a mask! I mentioned that in other churches those who sing wear masks, and I was heard quite well last Sunday when singing with a small group for another service. The fact that they couldn’t hear people speaking while maskless last night didn’t seem to be connected in his mind.
I was the only person wearing a mask at the service last night, but I understand how the others in the building would not think they need one. The was a very small group of people in quite a large space. Throughout the pandemic many of them have met regularly for small meetings, and they are staying within this bubble. I am not a part of their “bubble”, and since I have to continue to teach and work, I will continue to be extra cautious. Besides, all one needs to do is listen to the news to recognize that this virus is not going away. AND I also realize that many individual members will choose to trust in their faith rather than get the vaccine.
Last night was the first time since I started wearing masks a year ago that I was made to feel like I had to defend my position on mask-wearing. Even when shopping and no-one else was choosing to protect themselves and each other, nobody questioned why I chose to wear a mask. There were a couple of ladies who came up to talk to me after the service, and both of them put on a mask in order to come closer to me. They were aware of my obvious level of risk tolerance, and sympathetic. Another person asked if I would prefer that everyone wore a mask for the service. If the gig didn’t provide a consistent weekly income (not large, but enough for groceries) I would easily leave it.
We’ll see what the people decide this coming week. In a weird way I was not hurt by this person’s tone and words, but the conversation did keep me up most of the night. His words churning around in my head, and the responses I could have made if I had any warning or indication that this person, whom I thought was extremely kind and gentle, could also have an impatient side, verging on rude.
The pandemic is certainly exposing what is really hiding behind peoples’ real or imagined masks.
Reflections 