Marco Iazzolino

Every day we experience the challenge of coronavirus prevention. The indications have sometimes been confusing. To date, it is not so clear whether one meter is sufficient rather than three, whether the mask is of one type or another, not to mention vitamin C or other more or less improvised forms of defense against the virus. But we have a certainty shared by our Chinese, Italian, and even North American colleagues: we must often wash our hands for at least 40-60 seconds. A preventive gesture ‘born’ in the mid-1800s by a Hungarian doctor (Ignaz Semmelweis) who succeeded in eliminating the mortality rate of women who had recently given birth in Vienna. An ancient but always effective gesture that each of us is called to do often during the day (an average of 20 times). Washing our hands at least 20 minutes a day with reasonable certainty that this will defend us from diseases. A gesture (washing our hands), a symbol (self-care), a faith (the assurance of saving ourselves). A precious time to work (also) on our emotional well-being. How? Before opening the water, take 3 deep breaths. Wet your hands, put the soap, and for 9 seconds, put them in parallel as in a gesture of prayer. Close your eyes with your hands, ‘joined’ paying attention to the breath, and start washing your hands slowly following the official instruction. Accompany the gesture with a deep and careful breath, taste the gesture by feeling the soap flowing through your hands. When you want to rinse your hands continue to be aware of the breath. Will this prevent the crown virus? No more than washing your hands (maybe), but it will help us to live a sanitary gesture as a moment of meditation and well-being.

The same awareness that Jesus asks in today’s Gospel to the Samaritan woman at the well of Sychar. Only by living deeply the sense of what is happening to us can we change our gaze from the ‘thirst for water’ to that of ‘eternity.’ Courage!