A COVID REFLECTION submitted by Sister Frances Nicolle
The challenges and blessings of living in Lockdown for me.
Covid-19 Changed life for many over 70’s on Saturday 21st March when we listened to our Prime Minister Jacinda Adern’s special message about Covid-19. I’m in that age group and was stunned with the news. What about the voluntary work in the community I enjoy and find lifegiving. Sadly, I could no longer do most of it and our First Reconciliation had to be postponed. To start with I was restless and couldn’t settle to anything much. I made all these great plans of what I would do during that time. Somehow the time passed, and my plans evaporated. I have a lovely lady who I was visiting each week and helping learn English through ELP we were asked to contact our students by phone and set up a weekly phone conversation. It was a challenge and still is but there have been great blessings too as she wanted to get better at speaking, listening and responding to questions and the weeks have seen us both progress. As I grew into the more relaxed rhythm of living in the present moment I discovered it was a blessing to have more time for reflection, to catch up with friends and family on line, chat with the neighbours and people I met on my daily walks. The silence was amazing with the drone of traffic gone there was more bird songs and laughter to be heard. New experiences and skills were learnt from shopping on-line, going to the doctor on the phone, borrowing and reading library books in my tablet, and setting up zoom calls. One really beautiful gift was the monarch butterflies in the tree in Walter Nash Park. I’d never seen so many butterflies together in my life. The deep realisation that while online Mass, Easter Ceremonies etc helped there was the absence in my heart. We normally worship as a community each week and it was the people, the atmosphere and the support and faith that we share together that I miss most. I miss the times I had with people in many different ways. Praying for the world, our country, everyone affected with Covid-19 has been the top of the list. Also, a consciousness that so many don’t have enough money for the basics of food in their daily lives.
There is so much I could write but as we move from Level 3 to Level 2 this Sunday’s Gospel seems tailor made for me. “Do not be afraid, trust in God”. “We do not know the way – I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” In these uncertain days these are the words that I’m taking forward into the next week. As we move forward not knowing what the future holds I can but live in the present and Trust in God. I also look at Nano and reflect on her life and this gives me courage to take the steps that I need to move forward.
The challenges and blessings of living in Lockdown for me.
Covid-19 Changed life for many over 70’s on Saturday 21st March when we listened to our Prime Minister Jacinda Adern’s special message about Covid-19. I’m in that age group and was stunned with the news. What about the voluntary work in the community I enjoy and find lifegiving. Sadly, I could no longer do most of it and our First Reconciliation had to be postponed. To start with I was restless and couldn’t settle to anything much. I made all these great plans of what I would do during that time. Somehow the time passed, and my plans evaporated. I have a lovely lady who I was visiting each week and helping learn English through ELP we were asked to contact our students by phone and set up a weekly phone conversation. It was a challenge and still is but there have been great blessings too as she wanted to get better at speaking, listening and responding to questions and the weeks have seen us both progress. As I grew into the more relaxed rhythm of living in the present moment I discovered it was a blessing to have more time for reflection, to catch up with friends and family on line, chat with the neighbours and people I met on my daily walks. The silence was amazing with the drone of traffic gone there was more bird songs and laughter to be heard. New experiences and skills were learnt from shopping on-line, going to the doctor on the phone, borrowing and reading library books in my tablet, and setting up zoom calls. One really beautiful gift was the monarch butterflies in the tree in Walter Nash Park. I’d never seen so many butterflies together in my life. The deep realisation that while online Mass, Easter Ceremonies etc helped there was the absence in my heart. We normally worship as a community each week and it was the people, the atmosphere and the support and faith that we share together that I miss most. I miss the times I had with people in many different ways. Praying for the world, our country, everyone affected with Covid-19 has been the top of the list. Also, a consciousness that so many don’t have enough money for the basics of food in their daily lives.
There is so much I could write but as we move from Level 3 to Level 2 this Sunday’s Gospel seems tailor made for me. “Do not be afraid, trust in God”. “We do not know the way – I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.” In these uncertain days these are the words that I’m taking forward into the next week. As we move forward not knowing what the future holds I can but live in the present and Trust in God. I also look at Nano and reflect on her life and this gives me courage to take the steps that I need to move forward.
We are called to awaken to the Spirit of God present and active in all that exists, to a Spirituality of Being in Communion, and to participate in the universal mission of Jesus. C3*
