Covid19: In This Moment, How We Treat Each Other Matters / A.J. Hendry
If we're reading the signs right than by the end of the day we should expect to be moving into level 3, or even level 4 for - at the very least - the next 2-3 weeks.
Even as I write that, I get the heaviness of it.
Lockdown wasn't easy for anyone, and the impact on businesses, relationships, and job security has been a tough burden to bear.
Whether, you agree with the necessity of the Lockdown or not, you're probably feeling some form of anxiety. Worried about the future, worried about the present. No one can know how it all plays out from here.
In moments like these, it's easy to project our own fears and anxieties onto others. Whether that be the government, conspiracy theorists, young people, your parents, it's easy to look at the different ways that people respond to this, and react.
But, how we treat each other in this moment matter's.
Over the last 24 hours we've seen a lot of othering on every side of the fence.
Supporters of the Government are stupid, they're sheep, they're other.
Conspiracy theorist are dum, unintelligent, and other.
We are dividing ourselves into groups, young vs old, believers vs unbelievers, informed vs uninformed.
And as we do this, we are creating a narrative of otherness around our neighbour, in order to make them the enemy.
At When Lambs Are Silent we believe that we encounter each other through our stories, and by listening to one another we can learn to Love each other.
As we often say, to listen, is to love.
Last night I was scrolling through my Facebook page when I came across the post of a friend. This friend is gravely concerned about COVID 19, he fears that the impacts of the virus are minor in comparison to the economic impact on our nation. And he genuinely fears that the government may be using the virus to over reach it's powers.
I've seen his posts before, and I disagree with his perspective. In fact, from where I'm sitting, the theories that he holds about COVID, and the government are unhelpful and perhaps damaging for us all in the long run.
Yet, agree or not, I took the moment to listen. And as I listened I could see that he was more than some conspiracy theorist, nut job, but a real person, with genuine concern for his kids, and the impact this lockdown will have on his grandkids and future generations.
I disagree with him, but I can love him all the same.
If the last 24 hours are anything to go by, then when we get the update tonight, many people's first reaction will be to go on social media to vent their fear and anxiety.
Before you post or respond, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect.
One day, this virus will be gone.
And when that day comes we will still have to live with one another.
We can either come out of this further divided, split into factions, and at each other's throats.
Or we can choose to see each other's humanity, to disagree with one another in love, and through this difficult, anxiety ridden time, choose to listen, and choose to love.
The choice is ours.
It is up to us what sort of people we will decide to be.
A.J. Hendry