Learning from 2020
Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 07:21PM What did I learn, what was I reminded of, in the year that was 2020?
That I can survive perfectly well without buying clothes for an entire year.
That there are library boxes on the sides of suburban streets, enough for me to read to my heart’s content without having to visit the (closed-for-COVID) library.
That neighbours – actual physical ones – are important.
That even at my advanced age, people can learn new technology fast when they have to. That the team I work with in my office job stayed firm and strong and checked in with each other twice a week, even though we weren’t in the same room for months. That human beings pull remarkable solutions out of dire situations and make them work.
That being able to walk in fresh air is a mighty privilege and gift and sometimes all you need to keep sane and reasonably cheerful. That travel within our state is a luxury and delight, as is eating out. That there are things I have taken for granted that I hope I never will again.
That lockdown suits introverts pretty well, and that even extroverts quietly enjoy the break from the pressure to socialise.
That sometimes our pollies can be sensible and listen to the science. That other world leaders make our pollies look good.
That in combination with a pandemic, moving house can drive a person to the brink of exhaustion and burn out. That moving into a new home, even if it is one you have willingly chosen and are excited about, is profoundly discombobulating.
That meditation works beautifully on zoom and that you can feel the group energy of prayer through cyberspace.
That church can be done in unexpected ways. That worship on line is not worship in the flesh but that it is a damn sight better than nothing. That fellowship, Bible study and pastoral care can not only happen via videoconferencing, but that they can result in profound sharing and deeper connections. Also, the converse: that connecting on a screen is a life line, but that nothing replaces holding the ones you love.
That when a baby is born, it changes everything. That such a completely ordinary and yet momentous event brings hope even, maybe particularly in grim times. That I can spend hours watching animals and babies, and that this is not time wasted.
That I am one of the lucky ones.
That health and life are fragile.
That God is constant and that the resources available to us - prayer, fellowship, worship and study of the scriptures - can sustain through confusion, illness, doubt and fear.
That the most important thing, the thing that will get us through whatever life dishes up, is relationship. For me, that is about relationship with the creation, my community, my circle of friends and my beloved family. Above all, it’s about my relationship with a faithful God, which continues despite anxiety, ill health, lockdown, weariness and even, sometimes, despair.
This was published in the February issue of The Melbourne Anglican
Reader Comments (3)
Beautiful, thank you Clare
Thanks for these reminders, Clare. We need to have the obvious pointed out to us, and you do so clearly and eloquently.
I think I either knew, or was aware of, all the things you mentioned Clare. But to have them listed as a catalogue of blessings seemed to add power to their presence in that exceptional year. I was able to go back and remember my experience of each one and give thanks, that even in a horrible year, we have so much to be thankful for.