Covid19: Isolating but not Isolated / A.J. Hendry

As we head into lockdown, here are some words from our founder and curator A.J Hendry.

I write this knowing that tomorrow, I have a job. For now at least.

My work is being classed as essential, so for myself, and my colleagues, the mission continues. Yet, that won't be the same for everyone.

My sister lost her job weeks ago, my brothers gym just closed down, a friend of mine has been bleeding business for weeks, and after this, who knows if it will survive the lock down. For many, the uncertainty of tomorrow will be unbearable.

Covid19 has rocked our world.

There is no question about it.

What was, is no more, who we were yesterday, will soon be forgotten. Our world is different.

It's impossible to know what the future holds, our time is one of uncertainty, of unease,

What will tomorrow bring?

We cannot know.

In times like these our fear of tomorrow can threaten to overwhelm us.

It can feel like the world is out of control, like we have lost our grip on reality, like there is no hope left, like you are alone in all of this.

Yet, nothing could be further from the truth.

You are not alone.

We are not alone.

We have each other.

Yes, we may not be able to connect the way we have before, we may not be able to see one another in person, or hug one another, or go for that all important coffee catch up. But, we can still connect. We must still connect.

This is not a time to become consumed by fear, but to allow Love to rule.

One of my favourite letters in the Christian scriptures is that of 1 John. The writer speaks of the power, and the sacredness of Love. In his letter he says the so oft quoted words, there is no fear in love, for perfect love casts out all fear. I used to think of this as a promise we were meant to hold onto, if we would only know the Love of the Divine, we wouldn't be afraid. And so if we were afraid, we just needed to lean into the Divine's Love, to believe in that Love, to live in that Love. That belief, was the antidote to fear.

Yet, in recent years I have learnt something new about Love. Love, perfect Love, does cast out all fear. But, not because we chant the scriptures like a charm, attempting to ward of the anxiety that stalks us, or because we believe hard enough, or right enough, no. Perfect Love, expels fear, because perfect Love is only experienced through relationship, and within community. We know Love, only through the experience of being Loved.

When we Love each other, and as we are Loved, fear cannot endure.

It is cast out.

Expelled.

Exorcised from amoungst us.

Today our nation is filled with fear. Some fear that their business' are gone forever. Others, fear that they will not be able to pay their rent, or that they will run out of food, or that they won't be able to entertain the kids for four weeks without going nuts. And yet, still others fear that they might lose their lives, or the lives of their loved ones. We are surrounded by fear, filled with questions, that have no answers. Tomorrow looms like an unsteady precipice about to cave in.

But, though fear may seem to dominate the horizon, let us not be overcome by it.

Instead, let us Love one another.

Let us reach out to our sisters, and our brothers. To those who live alone, and are facing the next four weeks without physical contact with others. To those who are unwell, or in the high risk category, and are even now fearful of what might become of them. To those who battle mental illness, depression and anxiety, who are struggling against the battle which rages within them. To those close, and to those far. Let us reach out.

Because, we will get through this.

But, not alone.

If there was ever a time for us to remember our joint humanity, it is this one. For we are separated, physically, but we are not isolated, we are distanced from one another, but we are not alone. We have the power to connect at our finger tips, let us not allow it to go to waste.

If you know someone who is alone, or has a compromised immune system, or is in the high risk category, reach out. Message them, Skype, or face time, give them a call. Check in on your friends, be intentional, and find ways to reach out. And where there is fear, where their is anxiety, and depression, where the world seems to dark, or to bleak, sow seeds of Love.

Let Love live in our interactions with one another.

Our world has changed, it is to early to know by how much. Some of these changes will be for the better, others, not so much. But, what if one of those good changes was that we rediscovered the truth of how connected we all are to one another? What if one of those changes was that we remembered the importance of our relationships, if we were awakened again to what it truly means to be community.

We are not alone.

We are in this together.

Let us not be overcome, but let us cast out fear by the consuming power of Love.

A.J. Hendry

P.S During this time, we want to create more of a community on our Facebook page. If you want to reach out, talk, and connect with one another, please like and follow our page here. We'll be exploring ways to connect more over this time. To start, why not head over to the comments on Facebook, and share what creative ways you are going to stay connected while the country is in lock down. Kia kaha whanau, let's look after one another and stay connected.