Lockdown now at Level 3.

Autumn colours in our backyard

Lockdown worked

We in New Zealand have been in Lockdown for 4 - 5 weeks. It has hurt the economy, but it has done wonders for the numbers coping with Covid19. We we were getting up to 70 - 89 reported cases a day early in April. (A population of 5 million) Well before Lockdown, there was one wedding that took place in a reception lodge near the southern most point of the South Island. At that one wedding with around 70 guests there was one person who had Covid19 a flight attendant.  There have now been more than 90 people infected because of that event with one fatality. (devastating for the bride and groom) It is a very quickly spreading virus and our government put us into lockdown. There were no shops except supermarkets open and those were strictly controlled. No schools were open, universities were doing distance learning and people are either not working or working from home. 70 year olds and older were to stay home and get others to shop for them. Some said it was an over reaction. Now, however, we have moved to slightly less strict Lockdown alert level 3 conditions because there are only 3 infections throughout the country a day. There have been 19 deaths, most from clusters related to two rest homes. The impact of the Lockdown was highlighted by ANZAC day, April 25th. Anzac day in New Zealand and Australia is the day when we remember all those who served in overseas wars. The date recalls the disastrous WWI battle at Gallipoli at what is now called Anzac Cove in Turkey where mainly Australian and NZ troops fought bravely and thousands died in 1915. They eventually retreated to ships and nothing was accomplished. But all war service is remembered on Anzac day. Thousands throughout NZ turn out to dawn services at war memorials throughout the country. During the day more services are held in local communities. This year the services were abandoned for the first time ever since 1916! But throughout the country, at 6 a.m. people gathered at their front gate with many people listening to the "Last Post" on their phone or music device and some also read "the Ode" ("We will remember them") We went out to our front gate. My wife had made a reasonable sized poppy, the flower that symbolises the day, we had it standing by our letterbox for the whole day, and we stood by it in the dark at dawn on April 25th. In the distance somebody was playing the Last Post on a bugle. We stood silently while we listened. Our neighbour a couple of doors down stood also in silence in her dressing gown listening to the tune. There were others down the street, we could not see, but there were many thousands more throughout the country standing at the end of their drive remembering, marking the day.  It was a very different ANZAC day, but somehow deeply significant. While we growl about having to be in Lockdown, we were reminded of those who spent years at war and gave their lives for the nation.   

Change, but not much..

So now more workplaces are open, so long as the workers can work two metres apart and there are hygiene practices in place. Schools are open but only children from homes where people have to go to work are to attend. We are still told to work from home. Fast food places and take away coffee shops are open. (It was astounding, people queued from midnight at McDonalds and other favourite fast food outlets!) We have been enjoying the food from our garden. Predictions are that we will be at level 3 for two weeks and then go down to level 2. I got in touch with both of my chaplaincy places, and I cannot yet visit. There was one manager at the fire stations who suggested that I should have been visiting. Unfortunately he is not the one who makes the call.  I am prevented from visiting at both places for at least a couple of weeks, but I have been encouraged. Managers and people at both places have said that I will be welcomed back enthusiastically. I was surprised, one manager, a nice guy, but one I would not have guessed was a man of faith, had "Jos 1:9" at the end of his email.  This text is part of the call of Joshua and it reads: "I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  
It is frustrating. Two elderly women from our Church community went into hospital. We could not visit them. I want a car part. Normally I would go to a parts place with the old part to show them, discuss my problem, get information and they would find the part or direct me to where to go for it. Trying to get it on line seems to be drawing a blank and I am frustrated being unable to complete the job till after Lockdown. We are learning to shop on line. We needed ink for our computer printer, and an HDMI link cable and were able to get these delivered. In fact when this is all over, I think I will be doing more shopping on line. These probably cost less than driving into town to the store to buy them.
Return to normal?
I have read many articles suggesting that we ought not return to normal. It was "normal" that got us into this trouble, and "normal" will increasingly get us into trouble. I agree! We cannot keep on with an economic system that depends on infinite growth in a finite universe. We are hurting the world we live in, creating incredible inequality and simply living dangerously. I have read about this and talked about it since the 1970's. We need to re-think our normal. I dream of a better world with priorities more focus on wellbeing, common-wealth and wholeness. But I tend to be cynical about the prospect. I hope we will recognise it as an opportunity for change, a recognition of our global links and our interdependence, but I don't expect we will.

Blessings to you all. We are one family and this pandemic reminds us of that in a bad way. We are all having to cope with it. Hopefully we will remember these lessons "on the other side" when we are through this part of history.

Autumn bounty - we don't need take aways.

Car up on jacks - I enjoy doing my own mechanical repairs when I can.

The broken part - but can I get one in Lockdown?