I’ve heard that we are all in the same boat, but it’s not like that. We are in the same storm, not in the same boat. Your ship could be shipwrecked and mine sailing safely. For some, quarantine is optimal––a moment of reflection, of re-connection, easy in flip flops, with a cocktail or coffee. For others, this is a desperate financial & family crisis. For some that live alone, they’re facing endless loneliness. While for others it is peace, rest & time with their mother, father, sons & daughters. With the weekly increase in unemployment, some are bringing in more money than when they were working. Others are working more hours for less money due to pay cuts or loss in sales. Some are not getting on with family––domestic abuse is rife––we never know what goes on behind closed doors.
Some were concerned about getting a certain candy for Easter while others were concerned if there would be enough bread, milk, and eggs for the weekend. Some want to go back to work because they don’t qualify for unemployment and are running out of money. Others want to kill those who break the quarantine. Some are home spending 2-3 hours/day helping their child with online schooling while others are spending 2-3 hours/day to educate their children on top of a 10-12-hour workday. Some have experienced near death with the virus, while some have already lost someone, and some are not sure if their loved ones are going to make it. Others don’t believe this is a big deal. Some have faith in God and expect miracles. Others say the worst is yet to come.
So, friends, we are not in the same boat. We are going through a time when our perceptions and needs are completely different. Each of us will emerge, in our own way, from this storm. It is very important to see beyond what is seen at first glance. Not just looking, but actually seeing. We are all on different ships during this storm experiencing a very different journey.
I FAILED TO INCLUDE A PARAGRAPH EXPLAINING THAT THIS PIECE WAS FORWARDED TO ME BY A FRIEND. I FELT IT WAS SO GOOD THAT I WANTED TO SHARE IT. I DID NOT MEAN TO LEAVE THE IMPRESSION THAT I WROTE IT.
Myra H. Mcilvain 