[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 77 (Thursday, April 23, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E387-E388]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     BATTLING THE PANDEMIC--A POEM

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 23, 2020

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, at a time of national 
emergency, it is inspiring that the positive ``It Can Be Done'' 
American Spirit is appreciated.
  I include in the Record a meaningful contribution by Joan M. Lacombe, 
the Poet Laureate of Aiken, South Carolina, published in the Aiken 
Standard.

                         Battling the Pandemic

     They have closed the building, but not the church!
     We will continue to reach out to the needy and distressed,
     Vowing not one soul left to be missed.
     For the church is not a building constructed by man.
     It is made of ``we the people,'' God's message to bring.
     The church embodies the God-crafted Temples of the Holy 
           Spirit
     Where we all lovingly dwell within.
     The cancellation of liturgies, a dramatic move,
     New rules or worship set in place, health conditions to 
           protect; we to obey.
     Heartbreaking--as it disrupts our Lenten Journey
     To have this taken away when we need it most--a bitter irony.
     Together we will get through this--
     It is not for us to fall into a faithless abyss.
     For we Christians are persevering
     As our Easter goal we are nearing.

[[Page E388]]

     With 2000 years of History behind us,
     Our current effort to worship, an added plus.
     We can recall times and places
     Where we have endured persecution and trouble.
     We can still pray, worship, and commune with God--all 
           together in the great outdoors,
     While maintaining social distancing and
     Greeting each other with hands folded in prayer, fingers 
           pointing to heaven, a simple bow of the head--the 
           Namaste greeting--
     Acknowledging, ``I recognize the Spirit of God within you.''
     Our Faith still alive and flourishing, carrying us through 
           difficult times.
     Our effort shows our resiliency and resourcefulness--
     To be together, yet apart, as we cope with our current 
           distress.
     We are up to the challenge--Praising God in new and creative 
           ways.

  Our prayers and sympathy for the tragic loss to the Wuhan Virus of 
Nursing Student Joshua Bush of the University of South Carolina-Aiken. 
Our community is blessed with the determined leadership of University 
Chancellor Sandra Jordan.

                          ____________________