Social Distancing – our new unnatural reality
I went to the shop today to buy some essentials after being at home with my small family for 7 days. It was a strange experience to say the least. Except for the lack of activity in the streets the energy in my local grocery store was distant. People hardly looked at each other. No one greeted each other and I realized how social distancing has changed our new way of being. Social distancing … a new concept that is so contrary to our human experience and needs.
On my way home, I reflected on this new energy and how people are trying to find a new normal in this very unnatural time. I felt a sense of loss and disappointment. Is it really necessary to avoid eye contact in a time where we need each other more than ever?
I decided that this is not how I wanted to live my life. I want to reach out to people close to me, people I had only for a season in my life and people who I don’t even know. I want to be someone that cares and shows warmth and compassion in a very cold and difficult period in our history.
The only thing that will make this challenging time better is when we actually start caring for each other, reaching out and showing some compassion. Smiling and greeting those we see and acknowledging that we now have a rare opportunity to reconnect with people we lost along the way.
Thankfully we have technology to assist us. We also have organisations we can engage with that supports and reaches people less fortunate than ourselves. If you are interested in reaching out give us a call so that we can help you in contributing where it is needed most. Lusa is celebrating its 30th birthday this year and although it seems like we have nothing to celebrate, we have been operating in faith for 3 decades and know that at the end everything we have and everything we are is a testimony of God’s grace.
There is a wonderful principal that guide our lives and our world, the principal of sowing and reaping. Let us use this time of uncertainty to sow love and kindness so that we can reap connection and affection when we need it most. Let us use this time to reflect on who we want to be in a time where people need support and nurturing.
This too will pass.
Let us use this time to strengthen our family and friendship bonds and to reflect on what we believe in and what we stand for.
Yours faithfully,
Veronica Cronje
Lusa Community Chest your partner in compassion.