JC's helper: Lockdown blues.

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Lockdown blues.

Lockdown is working in NZ.
In New Zealand we have all been on strict Lockdown for nearly four weeks. The number of Covid19 cases has headed downhill in a big way, even though testing has increased substantially. We have been at "Level 4" and it is hoped that we could move to Level 3 on Wednesday. So I have barely left the house. I have gone for a few walks around the block. We ventured into town to get our flu jab, but then went straight back home. I have been doing jobs around our house and acre and made a few calls to fire fighters. I also have done a weekly news letter for people of the local congregation, which I call "Lockdown Linkup". It has been well received with people sending emails of appreciation and also their stories of lockdown so that I can share them. I was sure of myself that I would remain mental health wise, healthy and even enjoy the time. But...
I have been out of sorts... sad somehow.
I have plenty to do around our house and acre, but I have felt a bit out of sorts? I am fine really, but have analysed myself and there are at least three related reasons for being out of kilter..

1. There is a bit of uncertainty about how things will go for me after Covid19 Lockdown... there maybe changes to my lifestyle. Things I have invested a lot of time and energy in are fragile and uncertain. They may not survive the Covid19 disturbance. That uncertainty feels uncomfortable.

2. Normally I am the one helping the "unfortunate" or less able. Habitat for Humanity, Drop-in centre, Night shelter, food bank stuff, knocking on doors in Christchurch earthquake, and general dogs body helper type activity have been my life. I enjoy feeling useful to others. In this situation, because I am over 70 I am told sit down, stay home, we don't need you. (I think whether it is level 2-3 or 4.) I hear of somebody with some need and I think, "I could just pop around and help them." "I'll go see them and chat!" Then it hits me again, I cannot do that! I would be breaking the law.  I feel like I've been dumped on the scrap heap. Now that is not true but it is a feeling we older ones have to deal with.

3. While I am a bit of a hermit, all my life I have pushed myself "out there" and related with people. They have become important to me, it has become who I am, but now I cannot relate/be with them. I am missing the social contact. I could easily shrink back into my hermit zone? 

As a pensioner I have nothing substantive to worry about. Life will go on, we will never be broke, but the above changes have their impact... Are others impacted in a similar way? Just sayin'.

A Francis of Assisi prayer which seems relevant.

On Good Friday my wife made buns but added my hammer and nails to highlight the meaning of the day.

My home made carpet stretcher. (Carpeting the floor of my study after repairs.

Carpet done.

Study set up again.

New shelves... Lots of books discarded.

These photos are reminders of good times.

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The Blog's title

I am a Workplace Chaplain to the NZ fireservice.

At the firestation every time one man sees me he yells, "Here comes JC's helper!". I guess I am happy to be called just that... "Jesus' helper". I am a follower of Jesus.
A a quote from Dave Andrews in his book, "Not Religion but Love".
"Being a devotee of Jesus is not a matter of subscribing to a certain set of dogmas, obeying rules and regulations, and getting others to subordinate themselves to them.

The essence of being a devotee of Jesus is to live in sympathy with God as Jesus did; feeling the throb of God's heartbeat, and teaching our hearts to learn to beat in sync with the love that sustains the universe.

It means developing our capacity to sense intuitively what causes love pleasure, and what causes love pain, and doing everything we can to enhance the pleasure, and diminish the pain."

I love this charter.

The Charter for Compassion

The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.

It is also necessary in both public and private life to refrain consistently and empathically from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism, or self-interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others—even our enemies—is a denial of our common humanity. We acknowledge that we have failed to live compassionately and that some have even increased the sum of human misery in the name of religion.

We therefore call upon all men and women ~ to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings—even those regarded as enemies.

We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensable to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.