The Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society Med Journal May 2020 Final 2 | Page 4

Commentary
by Tim Paden, MD
Courage Under Fire
W
hat a strange and glorious time.
What a mixture of words and ges-
tures. At the time of this writing
(March 2020), we are living in a time
unlike any witnessed before. Amidst Covid-19,
the story is writing itself as we go along. In
health care, unlike any other field or industry,
we must perform on all fronts. We must treat
our patients while reassuring them that we will
get through this pandemic. We must protect
those around us while advising fellow employ-
ees or fellow workers. Ironically, I just began
reading the book by Erik Larson, “The Splendid
and the Vile,” concerning how during World
War II, the Churchill family and those around
them continued to live their private lives and
public responsibilities while unsure of the next
24 hours. We must remind ourselves that no
matter the outside circumstance or threats
to our well-being, we are all dealing with the
same daily struggles. We have our inner circle
of friends and family we most treasure, and
we have our extended family of coworkers and
the added responsibility to look out for their
needs. While we advance our own values and
causes, it’s of the utmost importance that we
keep our eyes on preserving all life.
No matter our field or
industry, country of
residence, economic
level, or current
situation, we all face
common threats that
hold us together in
efforts towards the
greater good.
244 • The Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society
This is a strange time in that no matter our
experience or knowledge level, we can face un-
known circumstances that can throw us all for
a loop. We live in an age and time where more
has been accomplished than ever before. We
have more access to online knowledge than
ever before, yet in unfamiliar times we must fall
back on our values and our abilities. From the
highest levels of the land to the lowest levels of
existence, we all seek the same things: security,
safety, a boundary of protection, and the trea-
sure of our inner circle of friends and family.
This is a glorious time. Our country and
our globe has never been more tuned in to
self-preservation and community awareness.
At no time in our history have we had the level
of cooperation, communication, and common
desires that we are seeing during this trying
time. How often do we have a common desire
among countries? Yet by the time this is pub-
lished, it is presumably everyone’s hope and
prayer that this pandemic is settling to our
common benefit.
If instead we face uncertainty and this pan-
demic is still in full swing, then I can only hope
and pray that we are all achieving the same
goals of security, safety, and protection. So,
lend a hand when necessary and look for ways
to show kindness to those around; you never
know who may need it.
While we may have some values that are
different, we must realize that our deepest
values – courage, hope, resilience – bind us to-
gether as values held across the globe. No mat-
ter our field or industry, country of residence,
economic level, or current situation, we all face
common threats that hold us together in ef-
forts towards the greater good.
At your position or level, define these val-
ues in your own way. Have courage to face the
known or the unknown, to do your part or as-
sist others in theirs. Project hope that this too
shall pass. Stride forward in resilience, for we
know that our humankind has been in many
circumstances in which these three traits pre-
vailed.
COVID-19 may be fading by this publication
or it may be growing in intensity. As of March
19, it is starting to spread, but perseverance
takes qualities that are embedded in every cul-
ture and every country. I simply desire to see
us recognize that we all embody these qualities
and if COVID-19 is fading, what a glorious day!
If not, then draw on your courage, hope and
resilience. When it does fade, we will all need
them again.
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