Have you had your flu shot this year? Millions line up each winter to protect themselves against the flu, and this year’s H1N1 pandemic has multiplied the need and the panic. Like the common cold, influenza is spread by a virus. As we walk through malls, enjoy a meal at our favorite restaurant, or travel to and from work, we find ourselves walking through clouds of air that might be filled with the flu virus.
If you skipped the flu shot this year, chances are you find yourself ducking away from those who are coughing and sneezing around you, and they seem to be everywhere you are. You’ve probably got a handy bottle of anti-bacterial hand sanitizer in your purse or coat pocket, and you can’t wait to get hold of a bottle of Lysol.
The flu is one of those illnesses that can cycle through a household for a number of weeks. My mother-in-law lives behind us with my wife’s sister, her husband and their three children. It seems the common cold lasts several months instead of 7 to 10 days, since it’s repeatedly passed from person to person to person. Everyone’s contagious, and everyone is susceptible to the virus.
I was paging through a magazine recently and came across a familiar advertisement for the book, Becoming a Contagious Christian. Its message is about showing how simple it can be to share your faith, but today I couldn’t seem to keep the thought of being contagious out of my mind.
Chris MacKinnon 