Honoring the Lives Lost to COVID-19

This week we learned that at least 100,000 Americans have died from COVID-19. While everyone in this country has been affected in some way during the coronavirus crisis, it can still be hard to make sense of such an awful milestone. As we go about our daily efforts to manage our lives, let us take a pause to respect the toll of the disease. We recognize the sacred nature of every individual life that has been lost, and that every single one of those 100,000 people had lives of dignity and value. We acknowledge the grief of those who are mourning and offer comfort to those around us if we can; we hope that they will find some solace in the midst of their grief. We’ve seen a devastating loss to our communities, particularly communities of color that have shouldered a disproportionate burden as a result of longstanding health disparities. For our colleagues who are providing care, we offer humble gratitude for their service. In this moment we affirm our continued commitment to compassionate caregiving as we support those impacted by this ongoing pandemic.

Rev. Tom Harshman, M.Div, BCC

System Vice President, Pastoral and Spiritual Care

CommonSpirit Health